Vicissitude -
Neolithic Necrocannibals
New Zealand
Gutter Prince Cabal
The debut album by New Zealand’s Vicissitude flew under many people’s radar when it came out in 2022. That’s a resounding shame, because the album in question packs a serious punch and should be right up the alley for anyone with an affinity for the bestial and extreme, as this is some unequivocally barbaric black/death reminiscent of bands like Pseudogod, Archgoat and Heresiarch.
One of the things that instantly stood out for me about Vicissitude is their usage of abrasive dual vocals and how heavily amplified they are. The amalgamation of hateful snarls with deep, cavernous growls is on full display in every track, giving the music an utterly inhuman feel, coupled with a series of lacerating riffs that often border on black metal. A truly dark atmosphere permeates this recording, largely due to the dense production and evil-sounding guitars that recall bands like Demoncy and Incantation.
From beginning to end, there is no respite from the visceral violence that Vicissitude offers. The eight tracks and forty-eight minutes that encompasses this disc feels complete and satisfying, as each track is comprised of gut-wrenching vocals, pulverizing drums, and stygian riffs. The length may be exhausting for some due to the continuous onslaught; however, I personally enjoyed every second of it. A good visual depiction would be to imagine a clan of ravenous, bloodthirsty cannibals in a cave, feasting on raw human flesh, hungrily ripping the skin and meat from the bones with their crooked teeth. I also believe the band took inspiration from Caveman Cult in the way the themes and aesthetics are presented; however, Vicissitude is stylistically a little different, but still belongs to the same pantheon of bestial metal.
I will not analyze each track in explicit detail, but I will point out that there is enough tempo variations to maintain your interest, as opposed to mindless blasts all the time, which prevents the album from sounding formulaic. I like the slower sections and how the belligerent vocals never let up, even during the more doomy parts. The album gets even better with repeated spins, as the overwhelmingly brutish nature of the music leaves you wanting more. The music definitely manages to evoke a sense of dread in the listener.
In retrospect, “Neolithic Necrocannibals” is a decidedly enjoyable debut album from these Kiwis, offering a satisfying listening experience for any fan of cacophonous and cavernous black/death metal à la Corpse Molestation, Caveman Cult, Antichrist Siege Machine, etc. Vicissitude is a promising prospect from New Zealand that I would like to hear more of in the future. (Jim)