Sunday, November 12, 2023

Vastum : "Inward To Gethsemane"








 The longest-running death metal band on 20 Buck Spin, is releasing an album of thoughtful death metal. The full-on assualts are still there but they are mindful of creating a mood with darker depth. The second song digs deeper into a more old-school death metal influence, though it does have an odd syncopated touch to the riff, that keeps it from sounding like another Morbid Angel rip off.. The vocals are low and resonant, the chaos is very controlled and the songs flow well. There is more hook to the staccato riffing of "Still Born Enternity" I like the spoken chant at the chorus that breaks things up and adds a more nuanced touch. Lelia's sung vocals also echo in the background here. 

"Judas" is basically a separate track for what should have been just the intro to "Indwelling Archon" . They find their groove and are capable of keeping things at a more deliberate pace that plays to their strengths as songwriters, keeping a palm-muted tension buzzing under things. The guitar solo feels very Slayer-like on this one, which is fine with me. Slayer were the masters of using melodic guitar and still being fucking heavy so any band that takes notes from them is fine in my book, 

"Vomitous" works off the trademarks of death being a powerful chug and a pounding barrage of double bass. Though resisting the urge for speed to rush the song. This creates hooky riffs in a manner not unlike bands such as Gatecreeper. Dive bombs and frantic snarls accent this. The last song feels like those death metal trade makes are becoming formulated into a more commonplace trope. Slowly darker more sonic elements begin to creep in to create atmosphere. I will give this album a 9, it avoids the pitfalls many death metal bands fall into. 




Inward to Gethsemane by Vastum

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