(We have our contributor Chile to thank for the following vivid review of the debut demo from California’s Voidhämmer, which was released earlier this month by Caligari Records.)
Yes, the temperature outside is about to go down below -20°C or -4 on the Fahrenheit scale for all you non-followers of the International System of Units (which somehow makes it more tolerable on paper, just barely), and with spring thaw still months away, what better way to warm up than to fire up some filthy, rotting death metal.
You could argue that your everyday central heating would suffice, but nothing warms the heart and soul as hearing those riffs pounding down from your speakers and into your orifices. Newcomers in the Californian outfit of Voidhämmer, who are not really newcomers (see below), understand this very well and offer a variety of putrid riffs on their debut EP/demo Noxious Emissions.
With the seriousness implied by the ghastly themes and the umlaut in the name of the band, you are probably wondering, since all three gentlemen of Voidhämmer also play in Karst (another Californian band which comes recommended), is there any stylistic overlap between the two bands and if so, why.
The short answer is no. Also the long answer is also no. Both bands do operate in the death metal spectrum, but with completely different perspectives to the matter at hand. Karst uses more of an introspective, atmospheric approach to their sharp, modern sound (just listen to “Dysphoric” off their debut), while the subject of this review offers a downright gravebound (I’m trying hard to circumvent the old school attribute here), murky, low-tuned griminess.
Now, with this EP/demo being shorter than fifteen minutes and containing just four songs, there is no real need for this review to drag on with the proceedings. Actually, just go and take a listen first, then come back.
Setting off with the vivid imagery of “Rotting in Excrement”, the band make no pretense about being completely dedicated to their craft. Guitars tuned to abyssal scales spew out their monstrous spells of putrefaction in such a convincing manner, you could almost smell the stench of decay arising from this bloated cadaver.
Speaking of which and purely coincidentally, “Cadaveric Bloat” continues logically the relentless march into the graveyard dimensions. For fun’s sake and a bit of diversity, the band infuse the rot with some punkish crust vibes which work phenomenally and make this song almost a feel-good anthem of this release.
“Phosphorized” could be the best of the bunch and I personally wouldn’t mind a whole debut album full of these gnarly riffs seeping out on the pavement like the innards of a fresh roadkill. Just marvel at that middle part when Voidhämmer go all guns blazing and try not to imagine this song being one of the picks for the Most Infectious songs come end of the year.
Gushing finally out of the cadaveric containment units with “Coffin Leakage”, the band wrap up their first release with another barnstorming crusher of a song, with the drumming of Shane Bogdan leading the way on this one.
In the end, we will continue to follow the developments from the Voidhämmer camp with more than just a passing interest. Finding your own place in a scene crowded with bands trying all kinds of things is always a challenge, but great songwriting is always a key to success and that is where Noxious Emissions excels the most.
Noxious Emissions is out now independently and on Caligari Records in digital format and on tape. Orders for the record and all related merchandise are possible via label and Bandcamp stores.
https://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/album/noxious-emissions
https://voidhammerdeath.bandcamp.com/album/noxious-emissions
https://www.instagram.com/voidhammerdeath/