ALBUM REVIEW: Vulture Lord – Desecration Rite

Norway’s long-running Black-Thrash titans VULTURE LORD are back from the depths of hell to offer their 2nd full length album via Odium Records on June 20th.

Beginning with creepy samples and spoken word that sets a perfectly demonic mood for the album ahead, Vulture Lord clearly intend on making their triumphant return heard. Blistering guitar solos drop us into hellfire before an onslaught of blastbeats, maniacal guitars and tormented vocals deliver a vitriolic assault of pure Extreme Metal carnage. The tempest of instrumental and vocal fury is certainly deserving of such anticipation around the new record, as the earlier pieces do not falter in opening the album with a forceful and magnificent blend of old school mayhem that is unwieldy and bestial without any dull moments. The earsplitting artillery does not cease as we are pulverised by sheer intensity and barbaric musicianship that is simultaneously tight and savage. With the punishing sounds and aura of total darkness that one would expect from such seasoned artists, it is probably obvious that this album will be no disappointment, let us hope the quality continues to be as mighty as on the earlier part of the record.

The blasphemous devastation continues with a total onslaught of visceral and intimidating excellence from the blasting drums to the scathing guitars and insane vocals, making for a blistering inferno of sound from this horde of maniacs. Some slightly slower sections give some groove to the album, a perfect moment for headbangers to rejoice before being dropped back into the annihilation that is never far away. Some more melodic riffs entwine with intricate cymbal work for flares of supreme musical expression that adds a splendidly traditional Heavy Metal feel to the deathly extremity while fitting it like a glove. Unfaltering in its brutality, do not allow yourself to be fooled these intricacies detract from the monolith of destruction at hand, they only feed more fuel to the fire of this desecration rite, a title which beautifully sums up the malicious and fierce record at hand.

Across these 9 new offerings of violence, we see a consistent passion in delivery from the whole band as the furiously crafted music ties together to give us a whole piece of art that is sacrilegious and ready for war. All of the classic Extreme Metal bands from when Black, Death and Thrash Metal were inseparable entities seem much more fitting allies to Vulture Lord than the easier to define bands of the present. I am talking about the likes of Bestial Warlust, Vomitor, Sarcofago and Necrovore, utilising just a few examples. That said, there is no rip-off, cheap worship here. This is a bestial raid of epic proportions that has its own personality and will smash anything unworthy that lies before the death machine that is Vulture Lord. A razor-sharp Metal attack that absolutely cannot be missed by musical extremists and spiritual arsonists whom need a pounding hammer of Metal chaos to blast at high volumes.

Pure devastating Metal mayhem from some of Norway’s most dedicated musical fiends, conjuring a pulverising opus of damning Black-Thrash obliteration that will decimate all in its path.