Vulnificus takes the plunge.
After three EPs, the project led by E. Browne (vocals, Abolishing the Ignominious, ex-Animals Killing People, ex-Humanity Falls…) alongside M. Jones (bass, Utter Scorn), J. Parker (guitar, Prophecy of Suffering), and E. Daniele (drums/guitar, Anal Exorcism, Dead and Dripping), unveils its first album, Inclination, with the help of Comatose Music.
The album starts off fairly gently with Bacterial Backlash, an opening track that allows itself a tense intro before finally unleashing its riffs at a good pace, while incorporating ferocious growls. We note a touch of technicality in the brutality of this long first track, but also some dull passages until the final sample leads us to Insurmountable Insurrection, the next track, which wastes no time in following in the footsteps of its predecessor and reviving the unbridled violence with a fairly lively approach. The abrasive sound tramples us mercilessly, as does The Internecine Incarnation, which offers complex and elaborate patterns that perfectly serve the ambient aggression, while the band slows down to let Intrinsic Inclination crush us with its jerky riffs. The assault seems endless, as the band appears determined to assault us, but an airy break allows us to catch our breath with a sampled voice until Involuntarily Incapacitated takes over, gradually building up its heaviness before charging ahead at full speed. There are also moments of dissonance before the final vocal sample joins Malfeasance and its lively rhythm, which easily gets your head banging, but the accelerations soon create dynamic waves before Inexplicably Beguiled nails us to the ground with its terrifying screams. The shrill harmonics are also present, as on The Infiltration, which offers us a chaotic solo to start the headbanging session, then offers solid riffs at a catchy pace before finally giving way to Excursus Vulnificus. We are greeted by an unsettling sample, but the band doesn’t hesitate to charge at full power when it ends, taking advantage of its length to remain fairly consistent and ensure a continuous torrent of violence, whether with its base or its leads. The album then ends with an instrumental version of The Internecine Incarnation, the third track, which keeps all its technicality.
Vulnificus‘ Old School Brutal Death hits the mark with every riff. While Inclination does offer a few moments of respite, you can feel that the musicians are devoted to the kind of violence we love, and it would be a shame to miss out!
90/100