SEVERE TORTURE

Sworn Vengeance

Earache
rating icon 7.5 / 10

Track listing:

01. Dismal Perception
02. Serenity Torn Asunder
03. Fight Something
04. Repeat Offender
05. Countless Villains
06. Dogmasomatic Nausea
07. Redefined Identity
08. Buried Hatchet
09. Sworn Vengeance
10. Submerged in Grief


On 2005's "Fall of the Despised" The Netherlands' SEVERE TORTURE took their U.S. style death metal to a new level, bettering the songwriting and infusing its music with more groove. "Sworn Vengeance" sees the band maintaining that quality level and mixing things up just a pinch more.

Loads of crunchy riffing and a relative amount of variety make "Sworn Vengeance" a death metal keeper for any fan of the style. "Serenity Torn Asunder" will go down as one of the band's staple songs. From the buzz saw riffing to the catchy chorus line of "I must have died a thousand deaths", it is a gem of a death metal track and an immediate SEVERE TORTURE classic. Upping the variety level is "Countless Villains", a controlled, mid-paced track that has the band utilizing more melody in the guitars, the effect one that gives the track a quasi-epic feel. Once you've gotten used to the slower pace though, the chunk ‘n' rattle re-launches with "Dogmasomatic Nausea". Texture and nuance is found in many places as well. Just listen for the (for lack of a better term) "twang" at the end of the main riff during "Fight Something". The solos may not be breathtaking, but are solid and wholly appropriate to the songs. It is those little touches that help freshen up the sound.

Speaking of the sound, the Excess Studios (Holland) production and Hertz Studios (DECAPITATED, VADER) mix gives the album a crispness and clarity that accentuates the crunch. The guest vocal appearances of MISERY INDEX's Jason Netherton and Ché Snelting (ex-BORN FROM PAIN) on "Buried Hatchet", the other album highlight, are a real treat as well. An instrumental track called "Submerged in Grief" ends the album and is a take-it-or-leave-it affair at best. The limited edition version of the disc includes bonus covers of the CRO-MAGS' "It's the Limit" and ENTOMBED's "Eyemaster", both of which are great fun. In a nutshell, "Sworn Vengeance" is another hardy death metal release from SEVERE TORTURE.

Author:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • reddit
  • email

Comments Disclaimer And Information

BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends).