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.
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