Review: “Desecration Rite” by Vulture Lord

There will be many who aren’t familiar with the work of Vulture Lord and for that we forgive them as it has been many Moons since the last time they spoke in anger. Eighteen long years ago in 2003 “Profane Prayer” was their gift to a dying World and now they have returned to reclaim their rightful place amongst the Blackend hordes with “Desecration Rite“. An album that sees members of Urgehal, Carpathian Forest, Beastcraft and Endezzma unite once more to pay a fitting tribute to and use the last of the song writing craft of the dearly departed Trondr Nefas, who took the last walk into the night in 2012.

Some may consider Vulture Lord Death Metal but their sound is more in keeping with Blackend Thrash with all the hallmarks of both of those Metal sub-genres at their finest creating an incendiary breakneck paced affair from start to finish on an unrelenting white knuckle demonic thrill ride of an album that doesn’t disappoint. Headbangers and neck snappers will smile black toothed grins from ear to ear throughout “Desecration Rite” with the endless riffs and ideas flowing from an overfilled poisoned chalice, the title of the record very much the perfect choice for something as fierce and fiery as this. Fans of Slayer may find their heads turned by “Bloodbound Militia” which was released as the first single, while there are plenty of nods to their early career as an influence throughout the album as a whole as well as to bands like Asphyx and Pestilence. Fretboard smouldering solos light the black night like signal flares going up on the likes of “Stillborn Messiah“, while artillery shell bombardment percussive battery drives “The Vulture Lord” in old school Extreme Metal style bringing maximum carnage and an unrelenting work out for drummer Uruz. Despite the maniacal guitars and tormented vocals that ruminate on themes of Death, Satanism and Blasphemy, it’s the intricacies of the album which make it special. Some of those don’t crawl out of from the woodwork until after the first few listens but things like the solo of “Prepare The Coffin” with it’s razor sharp riffs or the classic 80’s nostalgic Thrash whammy bar drops of “Beneficial Martyrdom” are jewels in the black crown of Vulture Lord. As each nihilistic annihilation filled tale spills from the plagued mouth of Sorath there is little doubt that this is a towering inferno of a record, a blistering affair that is not only a fitting tribute to the stunning song writing craft of Trondr Nefas but also a black book, a guide, a narrative for any would be desirer of a Blackend Thrash crown. If you want to create in this genre, which is seeing something of a resurgence in recent years with the likes of Canadians Dizastra to name but one, then “Desecration Rite” by Vulture Lord is the bone snapping, soul crushing bench mark, a high bar to achieve [8/10]

Track listing

1. Glorification of the Dethronation
2. Bloodbound Militia
3. Stillborn Messiah
4. The Vulture Lord
5. Diabolical Intervention
6. Prepare The Coffin
7. Beneficial Martyrdom
8. Burning the Kingdom Of God
9. Perverting The Bible

“Desecration Rite” by Vulture Lord is out 10th June via Odium Records