Volores has come to the surface fronted by Flogging Molly’s bassist Nathen Maxwell and his wife, Shelby. They have been creating hauntingly beautiful music for our souls to soak in which they lightheartedly call, “Mountain Goth” and it’s a perfect description for the genre that they should fall into. This debut album AGES is a beautiful blend of upbeat and somber, fittingly so with the album being about universal themes of love, life, and death. Not to mention the “mortal condition,” as their site described it, which includes the mental health struggles they’ve not only experienced separately, but together. This is a tribute to their shared musical passion that brought these two souls to one another. Shelby consistently keeps that haunting and smooth vocal sound that I can only describe as a perfect mixture of KT Tunstall and Fleetwood Mac.
The album starts us off with the song “All That We Could Need”, and the sound gives me heavy R.E.M “The One I Love” vibes. Although the R.E.M song I have in mind is a bit more upbeat and “happier” so to speak, it’s the number one song that comes to mind when I try to think of a song to compare it to. Shelby’s voice is silky smooth as she lets the lyrics glide off her lips to deliver emotional songs. Looking into the lyrics of the songs as you listen will show you just how passionate these two are about their music. The analogies used to help get the messages of the songs across are unique as well. I haven’t seen very many artists who use the kind of comparisons they do in theirs! The title song to AGES is probably my favorite on the album, being all about growth and how changes can seem subtle or large, but we still just keep going through the ages doing the best we can with smiles on our faces through it all. “Built to love but not built to last” is my favorite line, seeming to say that our purpose is to simply love and be compassionate because we weren’t truly built for anything else. Experiencing life should be with love and joy. Moving further in the album “The Meadow and the Moon” moves to having a circle of life feel to the lyrics. “Like most prey/ we’ll meet our end of days” is a line that resonates with me simply as a human. It’s a subtle reminder that we are all finite. We all have a day we will meet our end, it’s just a matter of how are you going to spend the time, stuck where you are or are you going to try to climb the ladder and live life to the fullest? The song kept it’s haunting, yet soothing, vocals to pair beautifully with the acoustic accompaniment.
One of the heavier songs I found on here is “Vindicated Kid.” It gives me the feeling of being in a relationship where one was manipulated and vindictive, and then their mask and facade are seen through finally. They smile as you walk away broken, knowing you know the truth, yet everyone else still sees what they want them to. I could be way off, but that’s the interpretation I got personally! “Vindicated Kid” is fittingly followed by a song with the acronym “L.I.O.E.E.” which stands for “Love Is Only Ever Earned.” The song stresses the importance of communication to be understood to receive love. Love is only ever earned with communication, vulnerability, and honesty. If you can’t speak the words on your mind, then it will be hard to reach the full potential of love. Finishing off this album is “Glass.” This beautiful acoustic track is describing the realization of the cycle someone could get stuck in; realizing you’re not yourself and knowing things need to change. If that means going back home where your feet know to take you, or just moving forward to better your life, find yourself, and you have nothing left to lose.
Shelby and Nathen did a phenomenal job on this debut album and I genuinely cannot wait to hear what else they have ready and waiting for us up their sleeves. Their beautiful debut album “AGES” can be streamed on any streaming platform as of February 24th, 2023, thanks for reading!!