VOMITORY - SWEDEN

VOMITORY - RAPED IN THEIR OWN BLOOD - FADELESS
Vomitory is probably the last of the original Swedish death metal bands to get a record deal and release a full-length. After releasing several demo tapes, appearing on a couple of samplers like Repulse Records’ Repulsive Assault and doing an EP on Witchunt Records in '93 entitled Moribund (featuring the tracks Moribund and Dark Grey Epoch), the band has now come out via the up-start Dutch label. Musically the band plays the Swedish death metal reminiscent of Crematory, Carnage and more accurately Necrophobic and all fans of this style can pick this up right now without hesitation. It is not trendy; it is fast, heavy and authentic and I salute the resolve of the band. Of course, years of practice has made the band rich in arrangement and riffs, and the vocals are aggressive and low enough to gain approval. It's mostly fast but on tracks like the aforementioned Dark Grey Epoch we find slower interludes. This is not brutality a la Deranged or Cryptopsy but put this on and the neighbours will attempt to exorcise you any way! - Ali "The Metallian"

VOMITORY - REDEMPTION - FADELESS
After another protracted period of silence here returns The Netherlands' Fadeless Records (with a new logo) and with a fully successful release. The sophomore release by these long-time Swedish death metal agents is the yardstick by which death metal should be judged by. Vomitory prove that they are the definition for true death metal, what with the growling vocals, quality razor sharp riffs, pounding drums and the uncanny ability to keep their mayhemic art trend and gimmick-free, the revamped quintet prove that they enjoy 100% unadulterated honesty-of-purpose. With this kind of pure death metal harbouring next to zero commercial potential, it is certainly a sign of commitment to see the band forge on in such a heavy fashion despite the loss of two members one of whom was the band's vocalist who decided to commit himself to his other band Gehennah. Farewell I bid him, as new front man Jussi Linna descends from Finland to maim and kill without hesitation. The quality of the composition is such that on a track like Heaps of Blood, Vomitory even approach the kind of power-class only Demigod could achieve. Check out the brilliant solo on Forty Seconds Bloodbath to hear how the gods of metal intended lead guitar to be played. Falls to your knees as the human drum tornado takes your puny hand into his whirling hands. If I am to level a criticism at the album it would certainly point at the muddy nature of the sound - especially seeing the history of the studio. Elsewhere, included is the track Ashes of Mourning Life from God Macabre's The Winterlong EP of some 5 years back - an extremely memorable track off an EP which everyone should try to track down. Hats off to the entire band who do a very good job of reminding the world what the definition of death metal is and how it is still alive somewhere in the depths of Sweden. Buy buy buy. - Ali "The Metallian"

VOMITORY - BLOOD RAPTURE - METAL BLADE
Come hear the authentic Swedish riffing which bands like God Macabre and Crematory. used to wield and Vomitory has perfected and consistently pitches at the listener. Vomitory has always been an amazing proposition and album number four is no different. One riff after the other is fast, slashing and exciting. Vomitory has changed singers twice, but has gone from strength to strength always delivering the goods. Vocalist Erik Rundqvist is from hell and boy when the drummer changes rhythms, which is often, he's taking your life into his hands. The drumming of Tobias Gustafsson sounds like a drum clinic on speed. One deathly riff after the other is complemented by a clear and harsh sound courtesy of Berno Studio and producer Henrik Larsson. Intense as a machine gun fire, Blood Rapture is death metal ecstasy.

VOMITORY - REDEMPTION - FADELESS
It might seem like deja vu to our readers, but this is actually a re-release of Vomitory's 1999 album. The Swedes' original label has reissued the disc with a modified cover and added five bonus tracks and a band history to make this version substantially different from the original and justify a new review. The crux of the matter remains the same. Redemption is a smashing death metal album and fans of Swedeath need not think twice before ordering this disc. The bonus tracks are a mix of covers and, better yet, unreleased material. Anyone who counts early Entombed, Dismember, Grave and vintage Tiamat as a favourite of his will admire everything about Vomitory. There is nothing more to say.
Nonetheless, one has to wonder out loud what sort of a contractual obligation has forced Fadeless to release the band's second album, and not the first, and more importantly why doesn't the label discover and represent the next Vomitory instead of rereleasing old glory. - Ali "The Metallian"

VOMITORY - PRIMAL MASSACRE - METAL BLADE
The new album of Swedish heroes Vomitory is commendable for two reasons. Primal Massacre is a crushingly brutal and delightfully talented death metal album of massive proportions. The band takes its Bolt Thrower-meets-Swedeath sound to new extremes. The vocals are deep and deadly, the guitar crass and crushing and the drumming bulldozing and blasting. Moreover, this being Vomitory's fifth full-length, the band demonstrates how a band can keep going without necessarily selling out. For those of us who were certain that a band beyond its second or third album is washed up are now compelled to concede a point or two and rethink that theory. Vomitory's Primal Massacre is the musical equivalent of a Pterandon. - Ali "The Metallian"