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VORMIR
Celestial Carnage

Self-released (2022)
Rating: 8/10

And there’s that term “technical death metal” again, and I’m finding myself cowering behind the sofa in fear of being frazzled by its exploits. But credit where credit is due, this debut full-length offering from these El Paso, Texas-based geeks is a cracker.

Heavy, rhythmic chugs are the order of the day here even within that celestial coating. Even so, it’s not overtly bamboozling as the four-piece churns up icy seas with guttural vocal sneers and impressive percussion that cuts the choppy waters with its decisive triggers.

Celestial Carnage is relatively short at 35 minutes, but it’s a rewarding experience for anyone who digs otherworldly technical death metal that doesn’t try to tie its audience up in knots. Sure, you still get the complex strategies presented, and there are the varying paces too, but it’s all delivered in thick waves of rather steady excellence as epitomized on ‘Hel’ with is snaking leads and rather dissonant airs. On this track the vocals slip into black metal squawks and there are technical flourishes which occasionally jar, but as this platter unravels I’m impressed by its accessibility and the various subtle nuances which litter it, particularly on the title track.

There’s plenty of aggression here too, however, and ‘L’ Appel Du Vide III’ is a joy to behold with its hammering drums and fascinating tidal chords, while the closing ‘Burial Ground’ is a superb finale with its hidden layers which act as gleaming descents into remote gloominess before ascending into more violent flourishes.

Celestial Carnage is not the entangled web of intricacy I was expecting, and I’m all the better for it as I revel in its interstellar textures which are akin to floating among fluffy, albeit occasionally toxic clouds. This is solid, engaging technical death metal with enough ingredients to shade the palette in varying colours which result in a rich tapestry of intricacy and brutality.

Neil Arnold

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