VERDUN - Abyssal Womb
Transcending Obscurity Records
The first time I heard this French Blackened Sludge band was on a Transcending Obscurity Records compilation in 2006. At the time I thought they were interesting and wanted to hear more. Unfortunately the band chose to put out their future releases on other labels. Now they're back with Transcending Obscurity Records after releasing an EP in 2011, two full lengths (a debut in 2016 and their sophomore album in 2019). They also released a split EP with a US Sludge / Doom band OLD IRON in 2021.
So here we are now and despite all of the inbetween stuff I was still excited to hear VERDUN's latest full length on one of my favorite labels. Now just for the record this genre, Blackened Sludge / Doom, has lost it's excitement (in my not so humble opinion) because too many bands performing it literally suck. I mean there are too many acts who can not write good songs. They depend too much on dissonant ambient trope sound effect.
VERDUN on this new album are not like that. The seven cuts on here invoke hate, violence and greatness to be alive and do it. The music on here is not for some hipster pothead. This is music for people who wanna beat the shit out of hipster potheads. A few of these cuts are head-banging, fist raising anthems which should invoke a real maniacal slam pit.
Let's give props to guitarist Jay Pinelli who comes up with decent riffs which keep you excited and yet border on the dissonant boredom. The rhythm section of drummer Geraud Jonquet and bassist Florian Celdran needs to be congratulated for exercising great power as well as intricate touches throughout. Finally there's vocalist David Sadok, who probably needs a throat lozenge after this recording. He's got a Blackened screech vocal from hell.
All in all if I haven't made in plain earlier. VERDUN have made Blackened Sludge cool again. This album is perfect from start to finish.
LISTEN HERE:
https://verdun-label.bandcamp.com/album/abyssal-womb
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