VENOM PRISON
“ANIMUS” (DELUXE EDITION)
Album Review By Lloyd Parkinson
10/10
Venom Prison is a band name that is becoming all the more familiar within the “Death Metal/Deathcore” scene and it is all for the right reasons. Deriving from South Wales, the band perfectly fuses a blend of “Death Metal” insanity and a “Hardcore” style offensive that produces a style of “Deathcore” that gives a devastating punch. This album is an onslaught of pure rage and is complemented by a strong statement through the artwork. The front cover features a castrated rapist being force-fed his own genital and although this may seem very extreme, it is aesthetically brilliant and matches the album’s subject matter and lyrical content. Throughout this album’s vigorous assault vocalist Larissa Stupar tackles a myriad of controversial topics including sexism, the unethical treatment of animals, religion and political instability.
“Animus” begins with “Syllogism” which is an introductive and abrasive soundwave of calamitous bass lines and guitar induced feedback. This opening track of unmitigated and provocative noise lays the first stone and leads the way for the second track “Abysmal Agony”. This track detonates into chaos with an old school “Death Metal” style riff. But, shortly transforms into a glutinous mix of sludgy breakdowns followed by a scintillating attack of “Hardcore” rhythms. During this track there are parts of technical brilliance that sure does keep the listener engaged. What I think is also brilliant on this album is that there are moments of restraint aside from the sheer musical carnage. A good example would be the tormented ending to the fifth track “Corrode The Black Sun”. In the final moments of this track Larissa Stupar screams the lyrics “Yet another tragedy unfolds. The seed of fascism is planted and thriving. Bearing fear and hatred“ over a groove filled riff. What I particularly like about this is that it shows that Venom Prison can shift from their fast paced sound but still provide eye-opening subject matter that really hits hard. However, the moment of calm doesn’t last very long before the chaotic frenzy commences once again with the album’s stand out track “Immanetize Eschaton” which is a devastatingly crushing track. The musical characteristics on this track succeeds any other on this album due to the genuine atmosphere of evil and hatred which is aesthetically on point for the oppressive and unstable landscape that we live our modern lives in.
All in all, this album is absolutely brimming with irrefutably technical brilliance and is complemented throughout by their “Hardcore” influences. “Animus” represents Venom Prison as a band who does not hesitate to deliver an album that has a catastrophic impact on the listener. There is a contorted delirium to the band’s technical and musical ability that gives them a sense of intensity that you don’t normally see from modern day “Death Metal” bands. The subject matter throughout this album sends a message to the listener that is hard to just ignore. It is an inexorable and vicious attack on today’s modern society and particularly focuses on the band’s strong views of political instability and injustice. For a debut album this a phenomenal record that is without a doubt going to see “Venom Prison” fast forward in the “International Metal Scene” and it is all for the right reasons. I guess you could say that “Animus” is the compelling paradigm of “The New Wave of Death Metal”.
Animus is available now to purchase on CD, Vinyl and digital formats from their label Prosthetic Records.
Make sure you don’t miss Venom Prison support Trivium, Code Orange and Power Trip at the following UK shows:
16/4 Bristol | Academy | UK
17/4 Birmingham | Academy | UK
19/4 Glasgow | Academy | UK
20/4 Manchester | Academy | UK
21/4 London | Brixton Academy | UK
BAND LINE-UP
Larissa Stupar: Vocals
Ben Thomas: Guitars
Ash Grey: Guitars
Mike Jefferies: Bass
Jay Pipprell: Drums
TRACKLIST
Disc One
Syllogism
Abysmal Agony
Celestial Patricide
Desecration of Human Privilege
Corrode The Black Sun
Immanentize Eschaton
The Exquisite Taste of Selfishness
Devoid
Perpetrator Emasculation
Womb Forced Animus
Disc Two
Babylon The Whore (Live)
Desecration of Human Privilege (Live)
Corrode The Black Sun (Live)
Devoid (Live)
Perpetrator Emasculation (Live)
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