EP REVIEW: Deus Vermin – Monument To Decay

This review will be of UK Blackened Death Metallers Deus Vermin’s new EP.

1. – (Intro) opens up up with some very harsh noise. It creates a cool, horror atmosphere with a really gritty style.
2. Swarms kicks the album in with dissonant and unsettling sounding Black Metal. The atmosphere is very like the type used by bands such as Leviathan, but with much more Death Metal vocals. A really evil and unpredictable track with convulsions of bleak riffs. This sets the album up to a very promising start. The song hammers out aggression and misanthropic vibes by the handful.
3. Iniquity kicks the blackened death vibes in with so much chaos and frantic attack. The production is very raw and the instrumentation is really aggressive, it makes for some great Extreme Metal. There is absolutely nothing forgiving or subtle about this music, but for those who want a varied attack of extremity and sheer aggression, this release certainly is one worth checking out based on what I have heard so far.
4. Worms continues the barrage of noise with a slower tempo intro but not lacking in the underlying malaise of the previous. This music offers so much bleak and hate-filled atmospheres with original and unique songwriting. The lack of regard for melody is something that is necessary to create such discordant grotesqueries. Aptly named songs full of sludgy malignant riffs and assaulting drums cascaded in both growled and screamed vocals giving a perfect balance to otherwise chaotic glory. Another awesome track.
5. Shrine does not mess around with introduction but once again beats the listener into submission. More brutal waves of noise and this time a more atmospheric approach, but still ugly as ever (which is no insult to this music). The lyrics are really cool too. The more atmospheric song here offers a little diversity but this release isn’t too varied at all, which is fine, as what it does is done very well.
6. Planetary Illness finishes up with a more melodic beginning and of course still gives us plenty of aggression despite the slower tempo, descending once more into anarchic blistering assaults of the senses. A beautiful plague of closing music, with absolutely no regard for the nearing end of the monolithic EP. This release does not stop to give the listener a chance to recover from the very start until the end, which even includes some “Slam” like parts followed by more Doom riffs. An excellent closing track.

If you enjoy melodic or technical music, this is not for you. If, however, you enjoy the uglier and more misanthropic side of Black Metal (such as Leviathan, Anaal Nathrakh and more) then this release is a hidden underground gem. Full of dissonant and aggressive songwriting and plenty of Death Metal elements to add some kick. -7/10