VIRULENT SPECTER
VIRULENT SPECTER “Satanic Territorial Moloch”
By Dr. Abner Mality
This one is so rotten, bestial and primitive you just can’t argue with it. The band is so obscure that they don’t even hide behind phony names or even letters or numbers. It’s just VIRULENT SPECTER. And oh yeah, “SPECTER” should really be spelled “spectre” but they just don’t give a shit. This is refreshingly misanthropic, extremely low-fi and just an all around rancid piece of worm-eaten filth. In other words, I love it.
“Usurping the Body” begins with a racket so appalling, I just about pulled the plug on this then and there. But if you can make it past the first minute, it mutates into a nasty early HELLHAMMER kind of Neanderthal groove. Yes, I said EARLY HELLHAMMER...VIRULENT SPECTER probably thinks even “Apocalyptic Raids” was too polished. HELLHAMMER is a huge influence here, but other names like PROFANATICA, VON and the like come up. The vocals are just indecipherable squeals and groans...I’m sure no actual lyrics are used.
The thing is, there is a kind of perverse swinging groove to stuff like “Master of Innumerable Forms”, “Bloodstained Walls and Floorboards” and “Reeking Depths of Night” that really loosens up your neck. I hate to use the word catchy in connection with stuff this raw and foul, but it does fit. There are also a couple of super minimalism dungeon synth interludes that keep things simple and creepy. And they aren’t overdone, like most BM bands would do. The only track that has a trace of Norse style black metal is “ISEM” but even that is covered with thick grime.
VIRULENT SPECTER cannot be resisted if you like true bestiality in metal. If you like any kind of shine or polish, this will kill you quicker than a thermobaric warhead.