ALBUM REVIEW: Buried Deep In A Bottomless Grave – Witch Vomit

Death metal is enjoying one of its most prosperous periods at the moment. From genre-bending experiments, new levels of brutality, and outfits showcasing a perfect throwback of the tried and tested formula of the genre’s origins. Oregonian quartet WITCH VOMIT have their combat boots firmly placed in the latter camp. Grinding in the underground since 2012, the devotees to the old-school are back with their follow up to 2016’s A Scream From The Tomb Below and their 20 Buck Spin debut, Buried Deep In A Bottomless Grave. But with the genre enjoying such a consistent deluge of high quality releases, can WITCH VOMIT cut through the noise?

A ringing out bass note kicks things off before the band go full throttle into From Rotten Guts. It’s immediately clear here that WITCH VOMIT aren’t messing about; the grinding riffs, though carrying hooks aplenty, have an intense sense of urgency even when the tempo drops down to a groovier dynamic. The vocal performance from Tempter is excellent from the offset, remaining in a super-guttural dirge for much of the track, while throwing in some higher pitched screams to keep from getting monotonous. Grave Despoilment keeps the urgency going, blasting through its opening moments before descending into a sludgy, infectious groove that guarantees the track’s place as a live favourite.

Buried Deep In A Bottomless Grave‘s title track clocks in at brief two-and-a-half minutes, dropping earworm riffs, blasts and brutality every second of the journey, while Dead Veins delves deeper into the oppressive murk that has covered the album thus far. WITCH VOMIT pick up the pace just before the half way point, driving towards a chaotic solo that proves to be a highlight moment from the entire record, before dropping back into the groove towards Dead Veins‘ conclusion.

Thrusting into the closing triumvirate, lead single Dripping Tombs carries the by-now trademarked sense of urgency and layer of filth over the production, making use of tremolo riffs and tasty lead flourishes throughout that add a new dimension of character to the track. By this point in Buried Deep In A Bottomless Grave, it’s striking at how well WITCH VOMIT have managed to create such memorable, hook-filled offerings while remaining in the raw, murky sound that characterises the new wave of old school death metal – and Dripping Tombs only emphasises this observation. Penultimate track Squirming In Misery is a delightful instrumental that leads nicely into closing number Fumes Of Dying Bodies – though you can’t help but wonder if Tempter had some of his horrific lyrics and vocals over the top if this might have been a highlight song from the record. Fumes Of Dying Bodies ends the album in classic WITCH VOMIT fashion, blending blasts and sludge with a timeless old-school approach – ’nuff said.

With label-mates TOMB MOLD rapidly becoming one of the underground’s favourites for “Album Of The Year” with Planetary Clairvoyance (read our review here), it wouldn’t be surprising to see Buried Deep In A Bottomless Grave be overshadowed somewhat. However, clocking in at just under one full Reign In Blood, WITCH VOMIT‘s sophomore record is a super-tight, delicious slice of brutality that, though not groundbreaking, delivers high quality at every turn. From the grinding, blast driven assaults to the bludgeoning, sludgy grooves, WITCH VOMIT have crafted one of the year’s most fun death metal offerings yet.

Rating: 8/10

Buried Deep In A Bottomless Grave is out now via 20 Buck Spin. 

Like WITCH VOMIT on Facebook.