Review: “The Misery Sessions” by VileGloom

One of those bands who are seemingly shrouded in mystery simply because they let their music do the talking, VileGloom have been on our radar as a growing concern since their 2019’s debut EP “Distrust” saw them announce themselves as Downtempo Nu-Deathcore heavy hitters. At that time, the group consisted of vocalist Julien Johnson, guitarist duo Joseph Maxwell and Steven Lytle with drummer Jordan Bridges holding down the beat, however their line up now is harder to identify. They jumped from the now defunct Chugcore Collective to Blood Blast Distribution for their 2021 EP “Suicidal Ideation” which was mixed and mastered by In Her Memory drummer Frank Smith and is as dark as the title suggests, earning 23k of Spotify streams alone for single “Living Hell” in the process. Clearly there are some who know their true identities as the band have shared stages with VCTMS, Distinguisher and Falsifier along the way and now return with a third burnt offering in “The Misery Sessions” from their Pacific North West home.

Gloom Metal soaked with a DJent style riff infestation, “Take The Blame” begins this cathartic release in enchanting fashion, the lyrical narrative that of someone for whom the straight jacket and a stay at Arkham Asylum beckons. A clank-y bass line has roots in Bakersfield with KoRn while the primitive drum sound with curiously flat cymbal hits suggests that programming may have been used to augment this one; not that it is of any matter because as it plays out it gets denser and darker, the atmosphere penetrating the veins as it does so. Haunting with an eerie background guitar sound “Used And Abandoned” then attempts to pick up the pieces with another miserable introspective lyric, the contrast between the brutal uncleans and harsh whispered moments perfectly weighted. A lethal dose of Oregon hatred, this one swings and pummels like death by shovel, the death growls threatening to reach into Slam vocal territory in the process. Vent and thunder, the bludgeoning grooves of “Unclear and Hazy” are slickly executed, the rumbling bass threatening to register seismic activity as the darkness continues to emerge from the throat like the winds of plague. They paint a nightmarish vision that you may not wish to dissect with a scalpel after the neck snapping is over but fortunately none of it is woe is me, instead there is a real grit and integrity that resonates and makes these cuts easy to latch onto. Stepping up the pace a notch or two, “My Father’s Son” finds VileGloom joined by Isaiah Wootton of Gut/Fauna for a guest vocal appearance and that little bit more energy only serves to increase the intensity with which the band scald the senses. Reaching demonic levels in the vocal booth, this one is vicious and a fitting conclusion to a collection that sees the band one again as a wrecking ball of release… [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Take The Blame
2. Used And Abandoned
3. Unclear and Hazy
4. My Father’s Son (ft. Isaiah Wootton of Gut/Fauna)

“The Misery Sessions” by VileGloom was released on 22nd December 2023 via Blood Blast Distribution