Monday 7 July 2014

Voodoo Gods - Anticipation For Blood Leveled in Darkness (Album Review)


Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 28/7/2014
Label: Saturnal Records

Voodoo Gods- “Anticipation For Blood Leveled in Darkness” CD/LP track listing:

1. Return of the Rainbown Serpent
2. The Termination of God
3. The Astral Dawn-Devotion to the Great Nebula
4. Cetewayo
5. Endeavours of a Syphilitic Missionary and his Death - Dawn of the Voodoo Ostinati
6. Renaissance of Retribution
7. Wrath of the Invisible Children

8. Article 246

Bio:

"The serpent under whose auspices gather all who share the faith and music as the vehicle for the expression of the Serpent's power"

VOODOO GODS is a death metal supergroup founded in America with a roster of international musicians. Most of the lyrics deals with the themes of Voodoism, Anti-Christianity and Spirits of the Nature when musically the band states themselves playing METAL with major influences coming from the areas of death and thrash metal which in the hands of VOODOO GODS is delivered as an expression of spirituality and the connection with divinity and the spirit world.

VOODOO GODS were founded in 2001 under the name SHRUNKEN HEAD at Tampa, Florida, USA by Alex "Voodoo" Von Poschinger, Tony Norman and Seth Van De Loo. In early 2006 Hiro (who had played with such bands as: Dies Irae, Sceptic, Decapitated, and Virgin Snatch) joined VOODOO GODS on guitars and Nergal (Behemoth) on vocals.

In 2007 bass guru Jean Baudin (known for Nuclear Rabbits and Element of Surprise), Mike Browning (ex-Morbid Angel, ex-Nocturnus, ex-Acheron.) and guitar legend David Shred Demon Shankle (ex-Manowar, David Shankle Band) on lead guitars joined the band. By the time the band had worked for a long time their songs in different continents and finally in the year 2008 the EP titled "Shrunken Head" was first released.

In 2014 VOODOO GODS was joined by legendary George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher (Cannibal Corpse) to replace Nergal in vocals who had to leave the band due to busy schelude with Behemoth. With Corpsegrinder the VOODOO GODS finished the recordings of the band's debut album at the Andy LaRocque's (King Diamond) Sonic Train Studios at Varberg, Sweden.

In spring 2014 VOODOO GODS signed to Saturnal Records (excl. North America, Japan & Poland) to release the band's debut album titled "Anticipation For Blood Leveled In Darkness".

VOODOO GODS is an ancestral musical system of worship and ritual practices where gods are born and honored with the veneration of ancient and recent ancestors who earlier ruled the same tutelary gods. VOODOO GODS shares metaphysical conceptions based on dual cosmological machinery of art.

The Band:

George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher | Vocals
Seth Van De Loo | Vocals
David Shankle | Lead guitars
Hiro | Guitars
Jean Baudin | Bass guitar
Alex "Voodoo" Von Poschinger | Drums

Review:

A death metal supergroup of sorts, Voodoo Gods present this lengthily titled effort that is brimming with hate and quality. George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher (Cannibal Corpse) is here, as is David “Death Dealer” Shankel (ex-Manowar!) along with three other names of more under the radar acts. So, the music... it is predictably heavy, but not overly extreme. Indeed, I might even say that things are often on the thrash side of the spectrum. This is by no means an extension of Fisher's day job.

The second track ‘The Termination of God’ goes positively Maiden at one point and the guitar interplay at other points also nods in that direction. ‘The Astral Dawn- Devotion to the Great Nebula’ is again thrash paced (lovely bass work after the initial riff) and memorable. This is not needless extremity- indeed, it is all very measured. ‘Cetewayo’ is slower but just as fleet of foot in the instrument department. There is more than a little of Schuldiner in the riffs; the band play superbly and with more subtlety than you may have expected.

‘Endeavours of  Syphilistic Missionary...’ has a very long song title that it would be wasting review space to fully include, so suffice it to say that its five and a half minutes are worthy of such a lengthy moniker, particularly the lead work. This is much more death metal- but not blasting; it is of the stomping variety and bound to get heads banging. ‘Renaissance of Retribution’ pushes the alliterative factor and also the pace. Hammering snare competes with machine gun bass drums before an excellent riff builds up. Superb riffing at the midway point too.

‘Wrath of The Invisible Children’ is the album's most lengthy excursion and offers up a slow build up and stop start riffing. Good to hear some different tones from Fisher here and there, too. Great melodic leads punctuate this memorable track.

‘Article 246’ opens with percussion before the rhythm section kicks things off in earnest. Fury abounds as the gears are shifted through and the record closes on this thoroughly metallic note, complete with percussive breakdown.

Once again, this album may not be exactly what you are expecting- the thrash leanings surprised me, having not heard their previous 2008 EP (albeit with Fisher not involved). This is an interesting and varied record- death and thrash, but not too heavy on either. A strong album, worthy of the individuals involved.

Words by: Richard Maw

You can get it here