WITCH VOMIT
WITCH VOMIT "Funeral Sanctum"
By Dr. Abner Mality
Oregon's WITCH VOMIT returns and I'm impressed by the growth they've shown on "Funeral Sanctum". Anybody expecting goregrind or a cavernous INCANTATION knock-off will be surprised: the band has added some real songcraft to their death metal attack. The good news is, it hasn't lessened the aggression and heaviness in the way that TOMB MOLD's recent "reinvention" did.
There is now an almost elegant darkness to the way WITCH VOMIT approach death metal. The surprising melodic guitar flurry that initiates "Blood of Abomination" is a real eye opener and the sophisticated, almost epic brutality of "Serpentine Shadows" follows suit...there's more going on here than just filth and gore! As I listened, it dawned on me that the closest comparison I could make is to IMMOLATION. That's a band that almost pioneered the combo of brooding melody and ferocious riffing. I wouldn't say WITCH VOMIT is quite at the IMMOLATION level yet, but they are for sure on their way.
Lots of strong moments here, but none better than the massive doom-infused crunch of "Black Wings of Desolation"...the best cut here by a long way. "Endarkened Spirits" is only a minute long but instead of the usual ambient soundscape I was expecting, it's a fierce speedy kick in the head. The instrumental "Abject Silence" is not the afterthought most such tunes are, but it quite majestic in its own right. These little touches make "Funeral Sanctum" a cut above.
Putting the cherry on top of this macabre cake are the grim vocals of Tempter...very much in the mode of IMMOLATION's Ross Dolan and that is very high praise from me. WITCH VOMIT have stepped up the ladder to their next level...I think they can move higher yet!