Artist: Vomitory
Title: Carnage Euphoria
Type: Album
Label: Metal Blade Records
Swedish death metal titans Vomitory have never really produced a sub-standard album, throughout their 20-year career they have been in my mind as one of the top acts of this genre. Their relationship with Metal Blade records goes back a fair few years, these guys show no remorse and no sign of calming things down on this their 7th full length album and if 2007’s ‘Terrorize, Brutalize, Sodomize’ album was anything to go by ‘Carnage Euphoria’ takes it to the next stage in classic death metal quarters. The bands albums have not exactly been that different from each other, but who would want them to change, I for one would most certainly do not want that!
‘The Carnage Rages On’ bursts into action, the low-end growl of Erik Rundqvist signals the start of this work of art. The low-end distortion provided by the guitars affirms this as truly a Swedish great and the drumming of Tobias Gustafsson gives you the impression that these guys could win a war with brutality. Still possessing the melodic interludes on the rhythm guitar work keeps your interest and most importantly shows that there are no wimps to be found here. Monolithic tunes continue with ‘A Lesson in Virulence’, a pounding display of might and talent with some absolute shredding lead work. ‘Rage of Honour’ almost hits the grind/D-beat nerve, but still possesses enough of the good stuff to make this a thoroughly enjoyable tune. ‘The Ravenous Dead’ tires you out with its intensity, there is no let up in the opportunity to work out those neck muscles, the arrangement flows effortlessly whilst proportioning this with the required breaks at just the right time and then you are treated more dirty groove ridden metal. Blast beats feature a lot through this release (as they have in the past), and they seem to power you up and give you a more responsive listen, of course the usual drumming that more often than not follows this blasting and makes things just feel at home. That’s what this CD is for me, a place to call home, people may claim that there is not much variety, but then who gives a damn, when things are this perfect why bother screwing around with them? Is there an army coming over the hill? That is just what the start to ‘Great Deceiver’ sounds like, a perfect album-closing track, it’s eventually fast as (a four letter word) and really, really makes you plead with the album to never end.
One hopes that they will come back to the UK shores, a tour with Malevolent Creation is in the pipeline later in the year (but no UK dates announced yet!), lets bring this death metal masterpiece to the UK shores again for some neck wrenching mayhem. Bands as good as this should not remain in the background, but should be put right up there as masters of this genre. This is going to a high position in my top 10 this year, if you into top class pummelling Swedish death metal then you have anything you want in ‘Carnage Euphoria’. The Digipack version also comes with a stunning 83 minute DVD tracking the bands illustrious career way back to 1989 full of live shows and studio outings. Quite simply, a must buy album.
http://www.vomitory.net/www2/index.html
http://www.myspace.com/vomitoryswe
http://www.metalblade.de
Paul Maddison
MTUK HOME
