Review: “Wasteland Throne” by Vermithor

The story goes that Vermithor were founded in August of 2024 by a writing partnership of guitarist and vocalist Taneli Ristola and drummer Jan Vähäniemi (Aganthros, Decedent). The pair were soon joined by guitarist Sulo Moisio (Chephreon, Warorath) and basssist Harri Korhonen (Chaosform), their vision to take elements from their influences in Death Metal and Beatdown Hardcore and combine them to create a fresh sound. Lyrical themes revolve around Dystopia, Horror and War so in the cold winter of December 2024 they recorded their debut EP in Jyväskylä Finland. Four months may seem like a short space of time to not only start a band but also write and record a debut EP, but nothing is impossible when you are single minded and devote your time and energy to getting a mission accomplished. The four piece aren’t resting on their laurels either with another pair of tracks with working titles “The Banquet of Bastards” and “Sickening Shrapnel Surgery” captured during their recent rehearsal sessions appearing online…

A distorted news reel of impending doom plays out a nightmarish vision for the first forty seconds of “Apocalypse Dawn (Intro)” before in time honoured fashion the guitars, bass and drums create a groove orientated soundtrack to total annihilation. The American influences are perhaps a little obvious but that’s not a bad thing by any means as within a few minutes you can hear the qualities of the kind of outfit that would get called up to perform at Maryland Deathfest. Death growls reverberate around the skull as Ristola roars his way through the opening onslaught of “Wasteland Throne“, a Death Thrash tune of pummelling rhythmic drive with blistering back to back solos from Ristola and Moisio. In many ways it echoes the early works of Sepultura with a rough and ready approach and deep seated despise of the World around them. Lyrically “Cadaverous Uprising” could be about the Chernobyl disaster, a well formed track with bursts of blast beats punctuating galloping kit work from Vähäniemi and classic old school Death Metal riffs galore. If Troma Entertainment made a Zombie movie this would be a perfect fit for the soundtrack, Ristola managing to keep his lyrics just the right side of comprehendible despite his gravelly approach.

A solo each for Moisio and Ristola either side of a nasty verse make “Veil of Control” a different kind of punishment beating, the lyrical narrative of Government and Corporation control creating a race of mindless drones addicted to their phones a very real prospect. Hints of the 90’s Florida Death Metal sound and bands like Deicide being an influence creep in as things start to get wet and wild, the brutal vocals the single heaviest element behind the rumbling bass and a killer guitar tone. As a band the four piece aren’t afraid to speak their minds and with “The Last Line of Defense“, a cut about the war in the Ukraine, they could find themselves trapped in a Siberian prison hell. The horrors of war are very real, this Death Groove magnum opus of a track arguably the finest in this collection. Once again the soloing is tasteful without being too over the top, the breakdowns that surround them executed with the precision of a laser guided missile. All in all a mighty fine first stab that sounds like its from a well oiled machine [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Apocalypse Dawn (Intro)
2. Wasteland Throne
3. Cadaverous Uprising
4. Veil of Control
5. The Last Line of Defense

“Wasteland Throne” by Vermithor is out 15th March 2025 and is available over at bandcamp