Goatwhore - Vengeful Ascension

June 25th 2017

(CD Album Review)

****

Vengence is brutal!!!

I first got into Goatwhore around 2008 with the 'A haunting Curse' album. At the time I thought they were a side project. I saw it had prominent members from the New Orleans (NOLA) Metal scene. I thought it was a great, fun rocking album were some guys from Soilent Green, Acid Bath and Crowbar got together got drunk and high and went “Hey let’s play some Venom and Celtic Frost” and everything went from there.

Well several years of relentless touring later here we are in 2017 and Goatwhore are about to unleash the seventh album. If this ever where a side project it certainly isn’t now as founding members: frontman Ben Falgoust and guitarist Sammy Duet have both done more with Goatwhore then any of their previous bands and they are busier than ever.

'Vengeful Ascension' sees Goatwhore building on the foundations of what’s already in place. There’s no great evolutional step or change in sound nor does there need to be. Goatwhore have always known what they are about and with every album they simply return with the same recipe but improved and refined. However, I will say this album has a darker atmosphere than previous albums and there is more use of melodic passages that give the overall album a deliciously sinister edge.

Such as the verses of the title track and the chorus of opener 'Forsaken'. “Where the sun is Silent” is a slow groover which is dark and brooding. It’s one of the catchiest songs on the album and it will be stuck in your head for days. Tracks like 'Chaos Arcane' and 'Drowned in grim Rebirth' sees them at shredding and head banging best. While the band have always had Black Metal in their DNA closing track 'Those who denied God' sees the band adopt Black Metal fully. The melodic and morbid shredding could easily have fitted on a classic Darkthrone album.

All in all this is a great addition to a great collection. Goatwhore are a workhorse and I don’t think it will be long before the next album. They are professionals at what they do. Ben Falgoust is one of metal’s great vocalist and frontmen and Sammy Duet one of today’s greatest riff masters not to mention Zack Simmons fantastic drumming. Goatwhore are one on the most consistent and hardworking bands and 'Vengeful Ascension' sees the band build what will be looked back on as one of Metal's great back catalouges.