I reviewed Minnesota’s doom death band Red Vinter’s demo We Built Our Own Death Machine, on here and one of the band members, is originally from the DC/MD metro area, Mike Bullock (vox/bass). He was in local bands Indestroy, Ironchrist, and Scab, from that area.

Earlier this year, they released their first official release – the three-song EP Into the Deep and now, Red Vinter is armed to release their debut full-length – Lumbering Menace. They redo three songs from the demo: “K.I.A.”, “Insurgent”, and “Blood in the Frost”. While I hit on some of those on my demo review, I will not go into those songs on this album review. Pretty much, they remain the same. Joining Mike are Dylan Jones/ James LeBrasseur on guitars and James Achilles on drums.

This seven-song 40-minute album begins with the title track at 6+ minutes, gets things started with some slow, dirgy type of doom. It has a nice Winter vibe going on, as well as a Celtic Frost type of riff, reminding me of “Procreation of the Wicked”. Mike’s reverberating bass guitar is there, lending that bottom heaviness throughout. Mike’s vocals are more realized on this, as opposed to the demo, where he was doing more talking. Kind a sorta. Now he is more throaty, and some extended moments develop into growls. The main guitar riff is pretty damn heavy, so much so it’s heavier than your Grandmother on Thanksgiving. The grinding guitar riff around the four-minute mark is excellent and has a Skin Chamber vibe. There is melody going on, and towards the end, some spoken word type of vocals. Very catchy and very heavy opening song.

“Lungblood” begins as a slow burn. The isolated guitar riff, then an opening bass slide, pounding drums, and this moment has me thinking Godflesh. Mike’s bass sound is very influenced by the band. The song gets into a rhythm moment not unlike the album Pure, from Godflesh, one of their best releases. You will notice the bouncy yet very heavy moments which call to mind the song “Spite”. Mike’s vocals sound a bit cavernous, and this song is a real fun song to listen to. Crank it up to hear that old school Godflesh-inspired rhythm pounding heaviness.

“Escape Velocity” ends the album with epic drums to open, as if this were an army marching towards a town to wipe it out. Excellent marching drums as all the music and vocals come in. Then the song gets back into the opening drum moments before the music once again comes in again. Pretty darn creative. The guitar riff is super doomy, and that lumbering heaviness prior to the three minute marker is vicious, then soft again, then back into that ruthless riff.

Lumbering Menace is an excellently crafted doomy and heavy album. Red Vinter should have a tagline for this album: If you do not get this album, someone will visit your house, busting down your door, flushing your Cheeto-filled face in the crap encrusted toilet, then promptly ensuring you pick up your cell phone and order the album. Real fun, heavy plodding doomy album.

[Visit the band's website]

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