VILLAINY - Villainy I
October 13, 2014, 9 years ago
(Hammerheart Records)
Little is known, at least to me, about Villainy, a Netherlands-based band who here on their debut (originally released in 2013 on ultra-indie Inverted Inhumation Records) lay down old-old-school cultened-black and chunky death and ugly-dude thrash with a surprisingly clean production (if the word "Usurper" just popped up in your mind, congrats; drinks on me later, fellow guy who spends too much time alone). This is definitely one of those bands who just have the attitude so right, the pure old-school German thrash, the early Celtic Frost, the first-wave death metal bands that were just starting to go beyond thrash... so toss some Possessed and Death in there as well (heck, let's throw some dark-side NWOBHM into the mix for "Entities Of Babylon," which takes Celtic Frost's Venom influence and brings it back home). But there's a bit of fun threatening to ooze in the proceedings, shades of Witchery in lyrical content and riffs and overall vibe, which helps take it to the party instead of the morgue/basement (again, ain't we spending enough time alone?). So, couple ales held heartily high to this blaster, the fun riffs all over the place declaring the intention, the slow-grinding sludge of "And Now She Is Perfect" shutting the casket with a resounding thud (so to speak; it's only the third song in, but its sludge crawls heaviest). Once the echo has stopped, of course, we're left with a silence, some awkward feet shuffling, the bummer realization that in half an hour, no one will remember any of these songs, even if a few of them seemed super catchy while they were playing. But we're not embarrassed at those ales held high; not sure if in the crowded metal marketplace Villainy have crafted songs that demand repeat listens over their peers, but this shows great promise for next time out... and sounds killer while it's playing, if you can just remember to put it on.