Severe Torture
Sworn Vengeance ()
Wydane przez Earache RecordsRok wydania Kraj HollandNapisał Wouter8
At once harkening back to their earlier days while integrating various elements of their defining "Fall Of the Despised" record, Severe Torture have written another strong album that combines the best of both eras. Overall, the riffing is thrashier, more complex and almost melodic while the tempos and grooves remind of the band's earlier releases. Dennis Schreurs is his usual self, as on the previous album, combining this gurgly growl with death rasps similar to Pestilence. Seth van de Loo delivers a spirited performance behind the drumkit, possibly his most varied and intense performance to date. Guitarists Thijs van Laerhoven and Marvin Vriesde alternate their typical riffings with melodic harmonies, overlapping layers and multiple chaotic or downright epic leads. In all, the riffs and solos on this record remind me of the death metal of the early '90s in execution and feel. Truly, it is great to see this re-instated in modern day death metal again, for it has been absent for far too long. Once again the band has penned a couple of mid tempo tracks with 'Fight Something' and 'Countless Villains'. There are also two guest appearances on this record. On the track 'Buried Hatchet' both Jason Netherton (Misery Index, ex-Dying Fetus) and Ché Snelting (ex-Born From Pain) lend their recognizable pipes to the proceedings. The production courtesy of Excess Studio, Rotterdam is similar to "Fall Of the Despised" – notably the drum sound has drastically improved and the string instruments sound a lot fatter and crunchier this time around. The artwork, design and lay-out were once again done by Killustrations and while it's something entirely different compared to the band's earlier releases, it fits like a glove. Overall, Severe Torture has delivered their strongest set of material to date.
www.severetorture.com
