Vomitrot - Emetic Imprecations

Angry Metal Guy

Somewhere along the way I got pegged as this website’s “vomit” guy, and I can’t say I’m bothered by that. Seeing the word “vomit” in a band name tells you absolutely nothing about whether the music will be good or bad, but it does tell you that what you’re about to hear will probably be fukkin nasty. And that’s exactly the way I like my music. Thus, when I learned a band called Vomitrot had an album in our promo bin, I couldn’t wait to get my grubby little paws on it. Formed in 2019 by members with experience in the funeral doom band Gravkväde, this Swedish trio first spewed their filth upon the world with a 2020 demo before retching up their debut album, 2022’s Rotten Vomit. Somehow my trusty vomit detector didn’t pick up on that record, but with song titles like “Apex Vomit,” “Upheaval of Vomit,” “Rotten Vomit,” and “Bludgeoned by Puke,” you can bet your ass I enjoyed that album. With second album Emetic Imprecations, the band have apparently cut down on their dinner portions, as this puke pile consists of a mere six tracks in just under twenty-six minutes. But is this foul expulsion still worth your bile?

With a bludgeoning approach and a dense amalgamation of surprisingly varied riffs, Emetic Imprecations treads an interesting line between war metal and death metal. The group roughly sound like they were crafted in the same factory as Antichrist Siege Machine, only before they reached the end of the assembly line, some poor underpaid worker lost his lunch all over the components. Unsurprisingly, the result is dirty, disgusting, and utterly unconcerned with whether you enjoy it or not. Opener “Envomited” fittingly begins with a sample of someone puking before erupting into a shitstorm of hammering blast beats, belligerent riffs, lurching chugs, garbled growls, and even a brief bout of squawking notes that recalls Concrete Winds. It all sounds like a vat of vomit churning itself into sentience, and things only get better from here.

Imprecations works because it knows how to keep things engaging. The songs frequently shift between ideas but rarely feel overstuffed, and while the music is relentlessly heavy, the use of different tempos and riffing styles results in plenty of notable moments. Second track “Emtophilic Cro-Magnon” employs rushing black metal riffs as a counterpoint to the more visceral assault of its predecessor, while “Odious Fetid Aberrations” invokes its inner Incantation with tremolo riffs that alternately swirl and strain for the heavens. “Heinous Sulphuric Phlegm” opts for a more punishing approach, beating the listener into submission with bouts of fast lockstep chugs before collapsing into a segment that could pass for slam. Both guitarist “Rotted Vomitor” and bassist “Vomitroth” contribute vocals, and the two ensure everything remains suitably vile and barbaric with their gurgling rasps and monstrous growls. Combined with the hostile and pounding drums, the overall effect is like being caught in the middle of an epic war between rival Neanderthal clans.

My biggest complaints about Imprecations are essentially quibbles. The aforementioned opener “Envomited” feels like it crams a few too many ideas into its three-minute runtime, and the album slows down a bit too much in its back half. In particular, closer “Vomitous Execrations” feels like it needs a few more blast beats to give the record the explosive ending it needs, even if its sharp recurring motif works well overall. Fortunately, the production is great, with a thick cavernous sound that retains more than enough dynamic range to let the riffs breathe.

Emetic Imprecations is a real treat. On paper, this album seems like it should have the IQ of a caveman; in actuality, the record’s primitive pummeling comes via some unexpectedly complex compositions. The result is an album that gets in, hurls all over you, and leaves you dripping in disgust as you sort through all the various bits and pieces that have just been coughed up. Fans of Infernal Coil and Of Feather and Bone will likely eat this up, as will those who like war metal that oozes with the primal aggression of bands like Caveman Cult. Vomitrot is a young group, but with Imprecations, they’ve easily joined the hallowed ranks of artists like Vomitor, Slutvomit, Witch Vomit, Anal Vomit, Death Vomit, Funeral Vomit, and Vomitheist. Get ready to retch, and hail the fukkin vomit!

Rating: 4.0/5.0
DR: 10 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Personal Records
Websites: vomitrot.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/vomitrot
Releases Worldwide: August 24th, 2024

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