VORE - Gravehammer CD Review

ARTIST: Vore
TITLE: Gravehammer
LABEL: Independent
YEAR: 2011
REVIEWED BY: Trystan MacDonald

Vore’s fourth self-published album, “Gravehammer”, can only be described as a refreshing dose of brutality in the death metal genre.

Rather than relying on insanely fast riffs and ear shattering blast beats the band Vore slows down their music but not by much; after all it is still death metal. This reduction in speed combined with heavy distorted guitars creates the entire essence of Vore’s sound, proving that you don’t need speed to create incredible death metal. The pacing throughout the entire album is what makes it such an inspiring album. Every riff or drum beat feels as if it’s been placed perfectly in regards to the momentum found on each track. From sweep picking solos to breakdowns, from simplistic drum beats to savage hammerings and blast beats; each part is meticulous in its placement.

You never get bored with the album, each song flows into the other, each song having a very different structure. A perfect example is how the song “Doomwhore” blends from heavy guitar into a very ominous acoustic instrumental track titled “Uroboros.” My favorite track on the album (a very hard decision to make) has to be “The Unseen Hand”. If the guitar riff at 4:08 doesn’t get you head banging then you clearly aren’t listening to it loud enough.

As a death metal enthusiast I find that the genre has started to run stale with albums and bands sounding more and more alike without offering anything rather great. Thank you Vore for breaking that trend and providing death metal fans everywhere a fresh yet incredibly brutal sound that captures and builds upon the roots of death metal.

TRACKLISTING:

01. The Cruelest Construct
02. The Unseen Hand
03. Doomwhore
04. Uroboros
05. Gravehammer
06. The Claw Is The Law
07. Progeny Of The Leviathans
08. Throne To The Wolves
09. Sacerdorum Tyrannis