Label - Wise Blood Records
Release Date -19th May 2023
Words- Chris Fletcher
There is a lot to be said for serious music that drives home a point and makes you think, however, there is nothing more rewarding than those albums that make you head-bang whilst maintaining a huge grin on your face for the duration. Canadian three-piece VHS know this better than anyone. Trading mostly in horror-themed records, their new album - the second on current label Wiseblood - perfectly inhabits that cross-section between bouncy death metal and 80’s movies about swords.
With punk-infused death metal bangers inspired by sword ‘n’ sorcery classics like Conan The Barbarian, Masters Of The Universe and The Highlander, what we have here are fourteen tracks over the course of thirty-seven minutes that will not only improve your life considerably, they may even make you want to buy your very OWN sword.
Opening intro track ‘The Quest Begins’ sets the scene nicely, conjuring a world where monsters roam free, and inviting us to join a band armed with riffs and powerful incantations on their latest adventure. From here we launch right into the wonderfully titled ‘Cleave ‘Em And Leave ‘Em’, which is just the first in a series of tracks offering top quality death metal, a highpoint of which is the lead guitar that pierces through the noise like a rusty broadsword. Pausing only for a couple of interludes updating us on the story, the record barrels forward at frightening speed.
Another enjoyable aspect of the album is that, whilst a three-piece, the band are not undertaking this quest alone. Notable guest appearances from members of Molder, Hellripper and Exhumed give a real air of credibility to proceedings and help elevate the experience to even higher levels.
VHS have been around since 2015 and whilst they do have other worthwhile records in their collection, The Quest For The Mighty Riff is their best yet. As the real world and the future of it looks increasingly bleak with each passing minute, long may VHS continue to brighten our days with shameless fun and plenty of headbanging. This particular quest might be complete, but here’s hoping they have many more adventures in store.
8/10
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