Vengeful
The Omnipresent Curse

Man, not only has death metal seen some excellent , label released goodness in 2009 (Augury, Gorod, Obscura, Ulcerate, Man Must Die, Nile, As You Drown, The Red Shore to name just a few), along come bands like Cephalectomy, Avicularia, Unconventional Disruption, Burial Ritual, Zealotry and Quebec’s Vengeful to self release some death metal awesomeness on the year.

Inexplicably unsigned after 2007s impressive debut, Karma (released on Disconcert Music no less), Vengeful ply a top notch form of technical, brutal death metal that culls from their innate Canadian influences (Gorguts and Cryptopsy in particular), which isn’t surprising considering former and current members have ties to the likes of Atheretic, Augury and Neuraxis, though there’s a bit of experimentation thrown in here and there. And though there’s been a bit of a lineup shuffle since Karma, the result is still as devastating.

With Vengeful I’m reminded of country mates Paroxysm; super awesome death metal from Canada that just doesn’t get enough attention amid the big boys. And your attention shall be gotten as opener “Forsaken” sets the mood with the perfect opening tempo and foreboding lurch reminiscent of Behemoth, then they unleash a typically Canadian vortex of blasting, growling and complex but hefty time changes that matches anything from their peers in intensity and skill.

“Beholder” is a short savage stab before the heaving “Anguish” and Detention” shows the band more restrained side with some menacing background acoustics and killer, slower drumming sections from Etienne Gallo (Augury, Negativa) that reminded me of Vore. “Lapsus” is an intelligent slow burner with multiple layers and a military mid song march to die for before “Nightmare” and “Sanctioned” bring the high octane fury once again. All of it perfectly produced and

Luc Lemay of Gorguts provides some extra vocal lunch for the 21 minute closer “Transcending”, a simply epic display of death metal that not much in 2009 will match as far as sheer blistering scope, variety and depth for that kinds of duration. Full of artfully crafted sonic peaks an valleys, the track is truly one of 2009s death metal highlights and cements The Omnipresent Curse as one of 2009s hidden gems and a CD all death metal fans should check out. Unsigned you say?

WTF?

[Visit the band's website]
Written by Erik T
November 19th, 2009

Comments

  1. Commented by: gordeth

    This is excellent! The songs on their myspace possess a brooding atmosphere that’s missing from most brutal tech death. I’ll be picking this up for sure.


  2. Commented by: Reignman35

    Yeah this album slays…. good review. If you like this also check out Sanctification – Black Reign… It was reviewed on here and another very solid death metal record.


  3. Commented by: elguerosinfe

    This is a fucking great DM album. It is full of atmosphere and nice mid-paced songs Maybe the tech-death label isn’t quite right. Thanks for the review.


Leave a Reply

Privacy notice: When you submit a comment, your creditentials, message and IP address will be logged. A cookie will also be created on your browser with your chosen name and email, so that you do not need to type them again to post a new comment. All post and details will also go through an automatic spam check via Akismet's servers and need to be manually approved (so don't wonder about the delay). We purge our logs from your meta-data at frequent intervals.

  • Aara - Eiger
  • Mammoth Grinder - Undying Spectral Resonance EP
  • Wretched Fate - Incineration of the Pious EP
  • Kaivs - After the Flesh
  • Witnesses - Joy
  • Mythbegotten - Tales from the Unseelie Court
  • Worm Shepherd - Hunger
  • Chained to the Dead - Only Hunger Remains EP
  • Entheos - An End to Everything EP
  • Trollwar - Tales From the Frozen Wastes EP
  • Gigan - Anomalous Abstractigate Infinitessimus
  • Whispering Void - At the Sound of the Heart
  • Human Harvest - Void of the Vile
  • Defeated Sanity - Chronicles of Lunacy
  • A Scar For the Wicked - Acolythus