Vertiginous, an Indonesian death metal duo, has released their sophomore album, "Incessant Affliction", which continues their brutal and relentless approach to the genre. The album, produced by Comatose Music, showcases the band's ability to create a sonic assault that is both brutal and meticulously crafted. However, the album's lack of diversity and distinctiveness between songs may leave some listeners wanting more. Despite this, the album is a testament to the band's skill and passion for the genre, and their brand of unrestrained brutality is sure to appeal to fans of death metal.
Vertiginous' music is characterized by its relentless teeth-rattling clatter and merciless pulverization of the listener. The album's opener, "Suffering, Misery, and Slaughtering", sets the stage for the album's violent incursion with its tortured vocals, flurries of snare abuse, and lawless stringed onslaught. The album's production is exceptional, pushing everything to the fore and creating a sonic concussion that is both calculated and appropriately brutal for the genre. The performances are also impressive, with Bima's frog-stomping gutturals and Prasetyo's clangorous drumming adding to the album's overall intensity.
One of the album's strengths is its ability to create a sense of seething intensity throughout. The album's tracks are all roiling with the same level of intensity, creating a sense of relentless assault that is both thrilling and exhausting. However, this lack of diversity between songs may leave some listeners feeling a bit overwhelmed and unable to differentiate one song from the next. The album's overall length of 30 minutes also contributes to this feeling, as there is little time for the listener to catch their breath between songs.
In terms of production, the album is a masterpiece of sonic assault. The mix is carefully honed, creating a depth that is both refreshing and satisfying. The bass, in particular, stands out when it is most audible, adding a refreshing dimension to the album's overall sound. However, the album's lack of diversity in terms of song structure and riff development may leave some listeners feeling a bit disappointed. The guitars, while chaotic and deadly, could benefit from a more focused effort on riff development, which would help to solidify the identities of individual songs.
Despite the album's flaws, Vertiginous' "Incessant Affliction" is a testament to the band's skill and passion for the genre. The album's relentless brutality and meticulously crafted production make it a must-listen for fans of death metal. While the album's lack of diversity and distinctiveness between songs may leave some listeners wanting more, the album is still a powerful and impressive addition to the genre. Vertiginous has certainly cooked up something potent with this album, and I'm interested to see what they come up with next.
