Sometimes the name of a band just calls out to me. I enjoy nasty, gutter-dwelling, caveman-like music and both vomit and rot are mandatory ingredients in this mix. When I first saw a band called Vomitrot among the new releases, I was naturally intrigued.
This 6 track primitive death metal is everything a fan like me could wish for. Filled with prehistoric, down-tuned riffs, bass with a heavy presence and quick decisions from the drummer, Emetic Imprecations never holds back and mercilessly beats me into submission. With a cudgel. Vomitrot make it clear from the start that this album is not for the mellow listener. Guttural vocals that ride the fine line between actual vocals and the sounds of bodily liquids being excreted in a violent fashion were my guide through this vomitive musical experience.
There is no need here to search for a deeper meaning or intricate stylistic choices. Emetic Imprecations is, as the name suggests, an album dedicated to the disgusting. And Vomitrot know how to be good at being disgusting. The sound is distorted and raw enough to be considered a highlight of neanderthal culture, but it also contains little hidden gems here and there that add some much-needed variety. Fast and chaotic solos, beatdown influences or sudden bass magic are well integrated into the overall package. This specific niche genre of doom-adjacent death metal often falls victim to its own tricks. Mighty filthiness over reasonable track progression. Vomitrot navigate these stinking swamps like masters and have never fallen into this trap. Slow and big sounding doom/death parts are promptly replaced by death metal in its dumbest form (non-derogatory). Tracks like “Gomorrahian Excrement” and “Odious Fetid Aberrations” even create an atmosphere of anticipation, which just goes to show that all three cave members in the band are actually good musicians.
Emetic Imprecations is one of the best caveman death metal albums of this year. Packed with filthy riffs, stupidly good writing and great pacing, this album ticks all my boxes for good fun. Recorded by one former and two current members of fundoom band Gravkväde, it shows that no matter what genre you like, sometimes all you need is some good shitty fun.