Review Summary: Quality Australian Death/Thrash Metal.
Bleeding The Priest is the first and only full length to by put forth by Australian Death/Thrashers Vomitor. It's hard to say which of the two genres the album stems most of its influence from, but I would say it's a Death Metal album with very heavy dose of thrash thrown in. The band's slogan - "DEATH METAL OR DIE", seems to indicate they would agree, though it's probably referred to as a thrash release more often than not.
Musically the album is rather simplistic, relying heavily on it's rawness to achieve that somewhat bestial sound many bands around here go after. The guitar tone is sharp and thin, the bass muddy, and the drums upfront. The vocals are somewhat withheld in the mix, being performed in a throaty kind of yell before a touch of reverb is applied to create an echo effect. This works well with the dirty, unpolished riffage and short irregular solos, but may not seem appealing at first. This all combines to create a short, but memorable listen, clocking in at just over 35 minutes. I'd pick a standout track or two, but it's too damn hard.
Unfortunately, Vomitor doesn't seem to be a band that's likely to become anyone's instant favourite, generally taking a few listens to appreciate. However the catchiness of the album, along with its short duration makes this a less than tedious task, will likely leave you wanting more eventually. All in all this a rather uncompromising release from Vomitor that'd be an honourable addition to any Death/Thrash catalogue. Highly suited for fans of Deströyer 666, Gospel of the Horns, Sodom and Nocturnal Graves.
Minor Details
Album Info
Label: MetalBloodMusic Records
Playing Time: 35:35
Release Date: 2002
Line Up
Guitar/Vocals: Death Dealer
Bass: Anton Vomit
Drums: BC Obliterator
