### Vemoth: The upcoming end

#### 03/07/09 || Khlysty

Within their site, Vemoth declare to us all that “The era of heaven has come to an END!” Whoa, now that’s a lofty goal. So, let’s see, has Vemoth, a Swedish black metal band, achieved anything towards this end since 2004, when the band was first conceived? Well, umm, eh, huh… Well, the answer is actually “no”. See, there’s no god, so, accordingly, there’s no heaven to come to an end. How can anything end, if it doesn’t exist in the first place, right? By the way, the same goes for Satan and hell, so nothing to worry about, m’kay?

Anyway, I don’t think that the non-existence of heaven is a problem for someone to enjoy Vemoth and their new record “The Upcoming End”. See, even without heaven (and hell…), this is a really solid release by a band that’s tighter than a constipated nun’s sphincter and knows what it wants to do and how to do it. Vemoth’s basic m.o. is playing a really headbangingly delicious thrashy black metal, with cool breakdowns (the one in the middle of “Lida” really calls for a big moshpit, and the same goes for the chorus in “Crush the Christian lies”), smart riffs and lottsa melody.

The scream/screech vocals are often underlined with huge shout-alongs and the guitarwork is really busy, but without ever becoming overburdened or redundant. Sometimes there’s even –wonder of wonders!- bottom-end detected in some of the songs, giving them heft and meat. As far as drumwork is concerned, everything is as it should be (lottsa blasting and stuff), without overdoing it. Generally speaking, this is good music done smartly by skilled and dedicated musicians. I must also point that, adding to the musicianship and general songcrafting skills, the production is pretty pro, so everything comes loud and blasphemously clear out the speakers.

The bottom line is Vemoth’s “The Upcoming End” is a really enjoyable record which, without breaking any new ground for black metal, still manages to be powerful and caustic enough to gain a place into the annals of the genre. So, in my wisdom and according to the rigorous ratings system of GD, I grant it with…

(P.S.: added points for the cover!!!)

7,5 burning heavens out of 10.

- Information
- Released: 2009
- Label: Dental Records
- Website: www.vemoth.com
- Band
- Behemiron: vocals
- Draugald: guitar
- Adimirion: bass
- Toxal: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Intro
- 02. Lida
- 03. Without the presence of god
- 04. The upcoming end
- 05. As your king
- 06. Crush the christian lies
- 07. Baal
- 08. Raise the dead
- 09. Wolfpack