When I first heard 2002’s ‘Blood Rapture’ I was instantly smitten by the sound of Vomitory. Nothing revolutionary, just relentless, uncompromising full throttle Death Metal. Whether I dug into the band’s back catalogue or followed their subsequent releases, some fluctuations in production and consistency aside, the band always gave exactly that what was expected.
About 20 years after the first meeting with their sound the band is back with ‘All Heads Are Gonna Roll’. That’s not something to take for granted, as the band threw in the towel in 2013, a little while after the release of their last album ‘Opus Mortis VIII’. Whether that album, which is probably the least energetic out of their discography, was a sign that the band needed a little time away is something that can only be talked about in hindside. But what’s for certain: it’s good to have Vomitory back. Time hasn’t stood still for any of us since the last Vomitory record, but musically the band shows no signs of change. As soon as the opening tune of ‘All Heads Are Gonna Roll’ blasts out of the speakers it the same fast paced, somewhat melodic, chugging and menacing Death Metal that the band has produced for about three decades. In fact, going straight from ‘Blood Rapture’ into the new album you would almost believe it was recorded only a day later, it’s so recognizable. That is both a testimony to the stability of the band’s songwriting, but certainly to their youthful energy as well.
Where the previous album seemed to lack a bit in energy that can’t be said for ‘All Heads Are Gonna Roll’. The band sounds rejuvenated after the break. Even in more midtempo moshing and chugging songs like ‘Dead Man Stalking’ and ‘Piece by Stinking Piece’ there is plenty of dynamics and pace, combining an almost Bolt Thrower like conviction with Slayer and Swedish Death Metal. But it’s the catchiness of songs like ‘All Heads Are Gonna Roll’ or ‘Raped, Strangled, Sodomized, Dead’ that are exactly what Vomitory is very good at. While not excelling in variety, the catchy style of Vomitory is something that instantly clicks but also sticks with you. I hadn’t played ‘Blood Rapture’ in years yet still remembered it almost note for note when I listened to it in preparation for this review. And ‘All Heads Are Gonna Roll’ has exactly the same qualities.
As intense as their best work, headstrong and steadfast as stubborn aged men, the energy of teens and the recognizability of that old friend that you grew up with and see again after a couple of decades. Unrelenting and unyielding, ‘All Heads Are Gonna Roll’ is Vomitory being nothing but themselves. It doesn’t really matter where it ranks in their discography, as it simply means one thing: This is exactly how you want them to sound. Catchy, groovy, uncompromising Death Metal.
Metal Blade
- Country: USA
- Style: Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Thrash Metal, Other
- Links: Homepage, Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp, Youtube
