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ACID VAT
Dead Flesh Architect EP

Iron Fortress (2024)
Rating: 7/10

If you’re wondering what that new foul stench is that’s suddenly started to erupt from your sink, it’s the debut outing from another rotten UK death metal band. Acid Vat slithers around in the darkest corners of Stockport and is the mutated creation of Jordan Sheffield (vocals and guitar), Michael Tate (guitar), Dave Triger (bass) and Luke Shawcross (drums).

This EP is more like one of those early 90s demo tapes in that it only boasts four tracks and runs for 13 minutes, but it exhibits an atmosphere akin to having your skin flayed. Meaty and manky riffs entwine with a guttural stodge as the posse churns out putrid material best served on cassette.

Opener ‘Shrapnel Brains’ chugs and roars like Obituary, steadily paving its way with a rotten yet rhythmic pulse before an injection of pace. It is simple old school death metal with some nice pinched hooks before leading us into more mid-tempo drudgery in the form of ‘Misery Enslaved’.

To an extent there is more of a mid-90s feel at times, mainly due to the concise nature of the riffs. ‘Barbecue Death’ grinds like Mortician, driven by its flabby axework and chesty coughs, but it’s death metal that really drags you into its depths without acting as quicksand.

This EP makes you feel as though you’re chomping on gristle as your aching jaws act as those hefty riffs. Closer ‘Gangrene Rot’ features a pulverising display from Jordan Sheffield as he navigates a flurry before once again entering choppy, congealing waters. Within the layers a nice melodic solo is released from the pulp before another riff grinds to remind of hints of early Gorefest perhaps.

There’s nothing flashy here, just honest organic ghoulishness that just adds to the quality of the UK death metal scene.

Neil Arnold

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