FERMENTO

FERMENTO     “Acts Of Blood”

By Dr. Abner Mality

This is about as harsh and dark as you can get without slipping into total insanity. FERMENTO hail from Spain and have a history that goes all the way back to 1991, but they have changed a lot in that period, switching from old school death to brutal slamming death metal. With “Acts of Blood”, they’ve gone through another metamorphosis, adding dissonant black metal to their assault.

The result is exhausting, but if you’re a devotee of extremity, it may be rewarding for you. This is as bleak as it gets. “Taste Emptiness” begins with murky, low-key dissonant chords, but about a minute in, it slams into action with a furious black/death assault. Vocalist MkM comes from black metal institutions ANTAEUS and AOSOTH and brings an extremely raspy, abrasive voice to the project...he sounds like his throat is lined with asbestos. One issue I think FERMENTO has is that their songs tend to be on the long side...nine minute tracks eventually wind up being just exhausting. Yet having said that, I can’t deny that “Under Fire” is one of the most merciless cuts I’ve heard recently...a musical equivalent of an AR-15 barrage. “Isolation Nation” is another long track, but does offer up some changes of riff and more atmospheric tones. The atmosphere, though, is one of sheer darkness.

Best track for me in the mostly instrumental “In Eternal Hunger”, which is where FERMENTO’s death metal roots shine. An absolute beatdown! I think with a bit of editing and more judicious songwriting, this band could be even better. As it is, this is a real challenge to the soul…

FERMENTO