Release Date - 8th July 2022
Label - Century Media
Words - Chris Fletcher
Sometimes a band name can conjure up powerful imagery and sometimes, as with ‘Slayer’, a band’s name can do this whilst also providing an accurate description of their musical output. Following in this vein with their second album (first for Century Media Records) is Vomit Forth.
Formed in 2017, the New York band have set out to prove that there are more avenues for death metal bands to explore and they enter this uncharted territory with aplomb.
The album opens with an untitled and unsettling electronic intro that really manages to build up suspense before second track ‘Eucharist Intact’ offers a hardcore-inspired barrage that offers real swagger. Other standout tracks include ‘Unrecognizable’ which provides groove reminiscent of old-school Machine Head and final track ‘Pious Killing Floor’ which, whilst being the longest track on the record utilises variations in tempo masterfully before giving way to a long intro that gives you a chance to catch your breath.
One small gripe with this album initially is the production job. It’s fine to sound muddy, especially in this genre but at times it felt somewhat choppy at first due to the programming and use of effects. That being said this is entirely down to artistic choice rather than poor execution and although somewhat jarring initially, the repeated listens that these songs warrant did a lot to assuage that feeling.
Overall however this is an ambitious and accomplished record that at no point feels formulaic and keeps you on your toes with multiple changes of pace throughout. The programming on the album, inspired by the collaboration with Prurient on the untitled intro track gives the record a somewhat futuristic vibe, like a death metal Code Orange.
Whilst it does have a lot of the trademarks you’d expect to hear from a death metal band, ‘Seething Malevolence’ is anything but a cookie cutter example of a death metal template. Vomit Forth’s entire MO is that death metal doesn’t just have to be one thing and there is no denying that they have put forward a convincing argument for that here. This won’t be for everyone but there is a lot to admire and if you give it the time it deserves then there are plenty of layers to discover.
8/10
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