INVULTATION - 'Wolfstrap' [ US Black/Death Metal ]

INVULTATION
'Wolfstrap'
Self Released / Digital
US Black / Death Metal

https://invultation.bandcamp.com/

There is a malevolence to Invultation's debut album that many a band simply cannot match. Following on from a self-titled debut demo five years ago, Invultation, surprisingly due to the quality of the music on offer as well as it's production, is a one man band from Columbus, Ohio whose new album has been well worth the long wait.

'Invocation of the Black Names' is an evil sounding intro track comprising a demonic invocation backed by brooding synth. From there the albums title track kicks things into full gear with screaming guitars and colossal drumming before blackened intense riffs and growled vocals quickly set the albums tone. When the music slows to a crushing doom laden level, the vocals once more take on the possessed fury of the intro track. Just as bludgeoning but with some catchy, groove drenched old school death metal riffs, 'Crushed Skull Fetish' increases both the pace and the sense of claustrophobic and profound ungodliness on offer with this album, an opinion deepened further by the ritual bombardment of 'Silvermane Heresy'.

In truth the album is not all that varied in it's approach but each song is short enough to not out stay it's welcome and the quality of music and production means that with each new harbinger of death and destruction, the album only sounds stronger. 'Predatory Instinct' is... well, predatory, whilst 'Mangled Throat of the Bastard' is barbaric and vengeful, offering up some truly crushing riffs when the pace slows. As you'd expect by now, 'Ritual Lupine Savagery' more than lives up to its name in the same thunderous tones as previous tracks before leading into the albums finale, the cloying, depraved 'Venomcraft'. In all, twenty five minutes of snarling rage encrusted blackened death metal, an album I'll happily experience again and again! [9 out of 10]