Votto – Gli ultimi istanti delle nostre vite precedenti
Votto's combination of cryptic, introspective lyrics and intricate songwriting creates a work that demands attention in the contemporary European screamo scene.
RateYourMusic is surprisingly useful for discovering hidden gems in Italian emo/screamo, especially emerging or forgotten bands that often get overshadowed by Raein or La Quiete. Votto is a prime example.
Votto are an Italian screamo quartet from Piacenza, formed in early 2020. They released their first EP, Panbauletto, in September 2020, followed a year later by their debut full-length, Quindi noi sbagliando facemmo giusto. That release was supported by We’re Trying (US), Desperate Infant (Hong Kong), È un brutto posto dove vivere (Italy), and Non ti seguo (Italy), and the band promoted it with an extensive European tour. Their second full-length, Gli ultimi istanti delle nostre vite precedenti, was released on vinyl via Non Ti Seguo Records in a limited edition of 150 red marble copies.
Musically, Votto blend post-hardcore and screamo, occasionally punctuated with blast beats. Each track is tightly composed, balancing crisp instrumentation with emotionally intense vocals. The production is strong, giving the anguished lyrics and layered guitars room to breathe, and the album as a whole conveys an atmosphere that is devastating yet precise.
Conceptually, the album explores the metaphysical transformation of identity: disappearance, rebirth, and the uneasy emergence of a new self. Its seven tracks document this ontological journey, weaving dissolution of memory and identity with a sense of existential intensity.
For me, with this release, Votto have outdone themselves. The combination of cryptic, introspective lyrics and intricate songwriting creates a work that demands attention from anyone invested in the contemporary European screamo scene.
