Vomitheist – NekroFvneral
Release Date: 19th May 2023
Label: Transcending Obscurity Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Death Metal
FFO: Autopsy, Bolt Thrower, Death, Dismember, Entombed, Grave.
Review By: Paul Cairney
Sometimes, all you want to do is put on an old-school Death Metal album that will rattle your skull about in the most pleasant of fashions. You may go to bands such as, ‘Death’ or perhaps ‘Bolt Thrower’ or maybe a bit of ‘Autopsy’, all good choices in their own right. But, let’s face the cold hold facts, we have listened to these albums plenty over the years. What if you want something a bit fresher, a little bit newer, an album that invokes the glory of these bands, but also adds a modern nuance to the classic Death Metal sound?
Well you can! The band is Vomitheist and their debut full-length album is NekroFvuneral, and it is a bit of a rabid monster.
11 tracks long, the album wears each and every influence on its sleeve. There are hints of Swedish Death Metal (Entombed), song titles inspired by the aforementioned Autopsy, as well as Florida Death Metal. Yet, NekroFvneral is not beholden to any one sound or sub-genre. Yes, it is gloriously old-school, with monstrous riffs and a meaty growl, but it is by no means dated and will surprise you with each and every listen.
Then we come to the band itself. They are a 3-piece!!! 3 musicians create this magnificent cacophony of metal. Formed in 2013, there have been no line-up changes and so, Gubler (Vocals, Bass), Yänä (Guitar) and Wöhrle (Drums) have had 10 years to master their debut album. The fact that they are not a Scandinavian nor American band is surprising, as our protagonist’s hail from Switzerland.
There are numerous high-level tracks, including ‘Putrifaktor’ and the opening track, ‘Strangled by Entrails’ but it is with ‘Tormenting Fungal Infestation’ where Vomitheist truly excel. It is a head-banging, horns throwing, riff-laden animal of a track that is worth the price of the album alone.
If you only buy 1 Death Metal album this year, NekroFvneral couldn’t be considered a wrong choice – but you should buy more Death Metal albums as well!
(4.5 / 5)
