Vastum - Hole Below

Published November 10 2015

*=Staff's pick	Sodomistic Malevolence Amniosis* In Sickness and in Death* Intrusions Hole Below (A Dream of Ritual Abuse)* Empty Breast

Genre	Death Metal	Daniel Butler	Vocals
Tracks	6	Leila Abdul-Rauf	Vocals
Running time	37 Min.	Leila Abdul-Rauf	Guitar
Label	20 Buck Spin	Shelby Lermo	Guitar
Release	November 06, 2015	Luca Indrio	Bass
Country	USA	Adam Perry	Drums
Producer	-		Keyboard
Similar artists	Asphyx, Autopsy, Incantation

Imagine swallowing a cheap foul brew containing the very essence of Asphyx, Autopsy and Incantation. Then imagine heading down the very worst part of town, finding the nastiest filth-ridden ally and just projectile vomiting it all until you draw your very last breathe in sheer panic. Can you imagine said scenario? Good, then you have a firm grasp of the suffocating atmosphere compressed into Vastum's third album 'Hole Below'.

The low tempo down-tuned death metal found on this piece of plastic is a direct descendant to the pioneers Autopsy and Incantation with a touch of crust punk. But where Autopsy is filthy, Vastum reeks of putrefaction. Where Incantation is dark, Vastum has destroyed all hope of salvation. This is without a doubt the nastiest, filthiest, darkest, most claustrophobic album I have heard in years. Death metal does not come much more depressive and terrifying than this.

This one is all about the atmosphere and delivers it mercilessly. These six songs form an effective unit that keeps the throat slashing feeling without any hope of mercy from start to finish. It is difficult to find any favourites among the six, which at the same time is the one flaw of the album. No song, riff or fill truly stands out which make this an even creation in terms of quality, but also in dynamics.

I really can't recall any particular riff or fill despite the atmosphere that keeps pulling me in again and again. The same goes for the deep vocals that seem to be bellowed forth from below and float on top simultaneously, and not only due to the use of two vocalists. As captivating as they are, the full out focus on atmosphere makes the dynamics come up short.

Even though the dynamics could have been improved to make this even more than an impressive show of hopelessness, this is highly recommended for anyone who likes their death metal to be covered in the darkest, filthiest, most disgusting life-sucking atmosphere possible.

Performance	Originality	Production	Vocals	Songwriting
6	8	7	6	7

Summary
7 chalices of 10 - Tengan