Review: Vomit the Soul Give Fans of Brutality Exactly What They Want on Massive Incineration
Y’know how sometimes you just wanna veg out on the couch and eat a whole bag of Doritos to yourself while binge watching your favorite show? You know it’s bad for you, and you know there are so many other different, better kinds of food you could be eating, but for whatever reason you’re just craving Doritos today.
That’s how it feels when I listen to a lot of brutal death metal nowadays. I know it’s mostly all the same and that there are a bevvy of alternatives out there, some of which are genuinely amazing, but sometimes I just want some junk food. I don’t have to explain it or try to rationalize it, I just like it. There’s a comfortable familiarity there, and I know that if I’m really in the mood for it, it’ll give me exactly what I’m looking for.
Case in point: I was fully aware of what I was getting myself into when I went to check out Massive Incineration, the newest full-length from the long-running Italian BDM outfit Vomit the Soul, and not only did they deliver the goods, but even slightly exceeded expectations. It certainly doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it will satisfactorily scratch that itch that every slam fiend has had since the early 2010’s.
The first thing I noticed is that the production is absolutely on point. A lot of these types of albums tend to have something that’s either way too quiet or way too loud, be it the vocals drowning everything else out or the cymbals being practically impossible to hear, but not this one. All of the levels are perfectly balanced, the guitar tone is nice and crunchy, the bass is a-boomin’, and although the snare is tuned a little loose for my taste, I have to admit it does blend well with everything else.
Ok, so it sounds good, check. Now that we’ve got that covered, how is the music itself? Like I said, it’s nothing we haven’t already heard before, but to their credit, Vomit the Soul do what they do very well. There is an undeniable hype and an almost effortless flow to the riffs, and that sort of thing can only be achieved by a band that truly loves what they do.
As is often the case, it becomes difficult to distinguish one song from the rest, but normally when this happens it’s because the music is stale and boring and it all feels like filler, but that is not the case here. Each song on Incineration is genuinely catchy and fun to listen to, even with the lack of any distinct choruses or hooks. The slams are spaced out nicely and each one sounds and feels different from the last, which serves to drive the momentum forward by creating a sense of anticipation and keeping your head bobbing from beginning to end. There might not be any particular stand-out hits, but it’s an album that you can easily press play on and leave it running the whole time without getting tired of it, and that is a feat in and of itself.
For all my talk about how none of the songs really stand out from the crowd, it’s worth mentioning that the musicianship is still extremely impressive. Drummer Davide Billia is on fire here, blasting and rolling around the kit with ease and practiced precision, perfectly complimenting the twin riff assault of Max Santarelli and Stefano Ciucci. As previously mentioned, Andrea Pillitu’s bass tone is vibrant and noticeable, subtly cutting through the guitars in order to constantly make itself known without becoming overbearing or obnoxious. The only real “weak point” is the vocals, which are a tad monotonous, but as with everything else, they still have their place within the overall mosaic. All of the members work in perfect harmony with each other, and that balance makes for a highly enjoyable experience.
What this album might lack in originality, it more than makes up for with consistency and quality. It might not exactly be groundbreaking, but it’s very, very good for what it is. I often compare music to food, since the seemingly endless variety of flavors and personal preferences makes for the most apt analogy that I’ve yet to find, and so in that spirit I’ll say this: you don’t need to eat something spectacular that you’ve never experienced before in order to enjoy a nice meal, it just needs to be done right. That’s what Massive Incineration is for me- a quick, cheap, greasy, wholly satisfying bacon cheeseburger that just came off the grill because you came at the right time during a shift where the kid making it still has some life left in his eyes. It might not be life-changing, but it’ll definitely improve your day and put a little extra pep in your step.
Massive Incineration drops this Friday, June 7th via Unique Leader Records, pre-order your copy here
