Album Review: Grotesqueries - Vile Crematory

Grotesqueries - Vile Crematory

Caligari Records - 2023

9/10

I stumbled upon Grotesqueries via one of my favorite labels several years ago, though their demo stage didn't do a lot for me. It wasn't until the following year when Caligari also released their first full-length, which felt far more complete in execution (naturally). A one-man show out of Boston, this gore-obsessed project quite swiftly crafted a to-the-point but compelling debut in the form of Vile Crematory, one I find myself coming back to somewhat regularly. The album art alone with its colors should easily catch the eye.

For one, Grotesqueries absolutely nails that perfect balance of crafting something ugly and marshy while still preserving some semblance of a clean surface. Similarly, this dodges anything I'd really call technical while still managing to craft longer songs that use repetition to their advantage, aided with extremely sturdy bridges. All of this molds wonderfully with the vocals, which have a gruesome snarl under the already guttural style, trading this out for the occasional shriek. The end result is something that feels like an original sounding ode to the Florida scene in combining aesthetics used both by Cannibal Corpse and Morbid Angel; the blood and filth lyrical content of the former meeting the undeniably evil veneer of David and Trey.

All of this means little if it the songs themselves hold little weight, but Vile Crematory absolutely nails this. The eruptive feeling achieved with the huge drums and crushing weight of the riffs makes for some of the meanest death metal songs I've heard in a while. "Corpsejuice" is a go-to because of its relentless gradient utilizing minimal tactic, which falls wonderfully into the intro of "Gorrified (The Ageless Malignancy)" and its thunderous bass. Longer tunes like closer "Dismembered Fears" and the opening "Hypnagogic Transmutation" that work in several phases with extremely tight bridges and loads of groove might be the best songs. Similarly, doom/death lovers could get something from the trudges of "The Dweller's Threnody," or for the opposite effect, the body-horror stench and chaos of "Meat You With Chain" brings an energy not felt elsewhere. The latter tune just barely hints at a cosmic feel on the back half, which I appreciate.

Frankly, I'm not sure why it took me so long to talk about this record. It sold me upon first listen back when it came out (maybe I was on a break from reviewing), and I think any seasoned death metal fan will get something out of it as well. Rarely does something so rudimentary in format land such a hard blow, but I'll be damned if the mastermind here didn't create a unique identity, and the standout vocals absolutely help. Talk about music that sounds as cool as the artwork looks.

Album Review: Sadistic Force - Midnight Assassin

Sadistic Force - Midnight Assassin
Goat Throne Records - 2023
9.5/10

At the start of the decade, Texas's Sadistic Force made a decent impression on me with their straightforward black/thrash sound that was nothing special but nonetheless strong. At minimum, they knew how to have fun and not take it too seriously. This evolves heavily on the band's follow up three years ago now, titled Midnight Assassin. Not only does that fun angle morph into a more horror-oriented image, but the sound itself cements into something a visibly more notable.

The band has always had an ear for crafting something catchier, and this time around it's done in a way that's more concise but not necessarily cleaner. Longer songs with shifts in tone and higher emphasis on lead guitar prowess dominate more of the record, trading the otherwise catchier but less-involved approach for tighter tunes that feel just as mean. Thus, we get a combo of strong choruses that mesh well with muscular tangents, avoiding any awkwardness. Frankly, I have to throw them props for not simply leaning heavier into the black metal side of things (a decent but sometimes predictable evolution) and calling it a day, but actually coming from a more intricate thrash metal approach.

Of course, this doesn't mean that Midnight Assassin isn't full of harsh shrieks, pummeling drums, and a horrific overlay; it just manages to work in several facets. "Corpsewood Curse" makes this known right away, fusing horror aesthetic with advanced leads that jump all over the place, presenting the album's longest tune. Similarly, "Marked For Death" takes a calmer approach to work a menacing stomp into the narrative, even including acoustic guitars for some flair, while the title track covers us in tremolos and breakneck speeds to trick us into the otherwise steadier march. Fear not, as there's still room for more straightforward blackened speed metal that the band made their name from. "Speeding Black Leather Hell" should tell you what you're in for just based on the title alone, served with gang chants and straightforward rhythms, but even the solo here curates a dramatic shift that caught even me off guard. Hell, "Nuremburg Nights" lets in what almost feels like a Motorhead-inspired black 'n roll vibe to pair with the macabre lyrics, and again, I really can't get over how well all of this works together.

It may still be tough to call Sadistic Force overly original, but having an identity separate from the larger scene is absolutely something they've nailed with their second full-length. A multi-faceted approach in the black/thrash realm is one of my favorite things to come by, and the Texans have done it. Beneath the noise sits layers of borderline classic tints that one could trace back to the first wave if they wanted to. Fans of Hellripper, Witchery, Bewitched, and the likes should seek this one out.