Visceral Evisceration - Incessant Desire For Palatable Flesh

More doomy death metal here from Austrians Visceral Evisceration. These guys didn't hang around for long, with this being their sole full length album from 1994. The music on offer is actually fairly melodious (considering the artwork would perhaps point to a gore grind styled approach), these guys had something more in common with earlier Paradise Lost than early Carcass. One of the earlier releases on a then budding Napalm Records (this being the very first pressing), these guys changed their name to As I Lay Dying (no, that THAT As I Lay Dying), and released a demo before disbanding completely. A small, but perfectly formed piece of the massive jigsaw that is European metal.

Vindicator - There Will Be Blood / The Antique Witcheries

The first two albums from US thrashers Vindicator here, featuring some of the finest 'new' thrash you could possibly wish for. Not that it sounds new (the best stuff doesn't in my opinion), but seeing as these were released in 2008 and 2010 respectively, I guess they aren't exactly of the old school. Anyhow, old, new, whatever - this digs deep and thrashes your head against the stage exactly as you'd expect. Well worth picking these up if you can find them nestling in 2nd hand shop shelves (it'd be a struggle to buy 'em new these days as their debut was self released, and their sophomore album was on the now defunct Heavy Artillery Records - thus both are out of print).

Vader - The Empire

The most recent album from the ever-present beast that is Vader. More excellent death thrash here, with spiraling riffage, chugging choruses and Peter's throaty roar continuing to plough their musical mindset of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. After so many years, they've nary released what could be classed as a duffer; and this is another great piece added to their legacy.

Vastum - Carnal Law / Patricidal Lust

US death metal band Vastum here, with their debut and sophomore albums 'Carnal Law' & 'Patricidal Lust'. To my ears, these guys use Incantation as a blueprint, contorting and twisting the sound into a really dark, low rumbling death metal torrent with bags of atmosphere. I lap up shit like this every day of the week, and these guys are on to something special - highly recommended. Both CDs released by 20 Buck Spin.

Necromantia / Varathron - Black Arts Lead to Everlasting Sins

A nice slice of the early Greek black metal scene here featuring two of its finest luminaries, Necromantia and Varathron. This split CD was released on Unisound Records in 1994, but it was originally only put out on vinyl by Black Power Records in 1992 - thus preceeding both bands debut albums. For fans of the early Greek sound, this is an absolute must for the collection. Other early releases from both bands are also featured elsewhere on this very site - the search function is only a click away!

Glorhme / Vénambre ‎– Tvuèrbe

More music from the mind of Vordb here (he of Les Légions Noires' Belkètre, amongst many others). This is a split release of two of his bands who play both dark ambient (or black ambient). A pretty short affair, it was released to small quantities on pro-pressed CD-r. A nice trinket for the collection.

Various Artists - Swedish Death Metal

A nice death metal compilation here which complimented the excellent book of the same title by Daniel Ekeroth, featuring all the classics, as well as a good slice of obscurities and demo material. I often stick this on as it has a good mix, and runs really well. Also, one thing I like is the extended fat booklet which has a little write up about each band and various other bits and pieces of interest.

Various Artists - Grind Core's Death Row

A compilation here from old school extreme metal label Grind Core, an American label who has featured such alumni as Morbid Saint, Therion, Cianide and At the Gates among their roster of licensed releases to the US market. In fact, all of those bands feature on this release, and as a 'mix tape' style comp of differing styles, it actually works pretty well. Quite the collectable label these days, similarly to the former Peaceville Records imprint Deaf Records (where a lot of the same releases were put out in Europe).

Vintersorg - Hedniskhjärtad EP

The first release for Vintersorg (a.k.a Andreas Hedlund) Hedniskhjärtad (or Heathen-hearted, in English), was one of the very earliest releases on Napalm Records. I'm a huge fan of Vintersorg's mix of clean and harsh vocals, and have followed his career throughout not only his own band, but also Borknagar, Otyg and many others. This is a nice piece to have to hear some of his earliest material and to see how he's progressed as an artist (and a vocalist) over the years. Great, epic melodies, fizzing guitars and heartfelt music. Good stuff.

Venom - Calm Before The Storm

Venom here with one of their lesser known (and more commercial) albums, 1987's 'Calm Before The Storm'. This is the original pressing on Filmtrax, but this album has seen many re-issues and even a few name changes throughout the years (it was also released under the titles 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'Under A Spell' by various other labels, as well as an unofficial release under the title 'Metal Punk'). Until finding a copy for myself, I'd always believed they'd gone for the fully monochromatic album artwork with this - not so when you take a look a the slight bluey hues in the cover art. This album was definitely one of their more polished, very NWOBHM sounding, even with Cronos taming his vocals and the other guys providing some harmonising from time to time. I know, Venom, harmonising. Whatever next.

Voivod - Into My Hypercube (Promo)

A nice little pick from a car boot sale here, I spotted this along with a handful of other bits I thought I might like. I saw it had no booklet, but went for it anyway as it mentioned being a promotional copy (even though it has a regular back inlay). Turns out, its not meant to have a booklet - so all good. A couple of nice cuts from the bands rocking 'Nothingface' album.

Various Artists / Grindcores Death Row

A random pick up from a 2nd hand shop here. I think I have most (if not all) of the tracks here on their original albums, but am a sucker for picking up little spots like this. Featuring the likes of Cianide, Vital Remains, At The Gates & Morgue, this has a nice balance of different bands with similar vibes. One of those nice 'moment in time' releases, where tasters of bands who went on to become semi-legendary in the scene all mingled shoulder to shoulder with those who never made it on one release. Released on Red Light/Grindcore Records, and out of print.

Vreid - Sólverv

Here we have the most recent album from the underated Vreid, 'Sólverv'. This is the limited edition digipak version on Indie Recordings, which as you can see comes with a free patch. As you might know, most of the band members started out their career in Windir, and after Valfar's death they went on to form Vreid. I remember their earlier albums had quick a stompy, rocking black metal edge. These days, they still rock, but their black metal is pretty melodic and filled with great songwriting and great musicianship, at times akin to early Satyricon. Well worth a look.

Vendetta - Go and Live ... Stay and Die

The debut full length of Germany's well loved Vendetta here, in it's original pressing on Noise Records. Need I say more about this release? Well if I must. This along with their 2nd effort 'Brain Damage' is held in high regard for good reason - these guys were the ones only just in the shadow of the big Teutonic three of Kreator, Destruction and Sodom. In fact, at times they were on a pretty much level playing field (at least in my opinion). So, if you haven't heard these guys, please - do yourself a favour and get hunting.

Vengeance Rising - Human Sacrifice / Once Dead

Aussie thrashers Vengeance Rising here with their first two albums from '88 and '90 respectively. Originally forming (and indeed releasing their debut 'Human Suffering' under the name Vengeance, they had to add the 'Rising' as there was a copywrite claim on Vengeance (not surprising, really). Both released under the Intense Records label (yes, as a band they had a Christian leaning) - but don't let that put you off hearing some decent thrash, eh?

Various Artists - Projections of a Stained Mind

I don't often post up many V/A albums (in fact I think I've only posted up a couple previously to now). However, this comp from 1991 has such importance on the burgeoning Scandinavian extreme metal scene that it just had to go up here. This is the white covered version (there is also a black covered version with the same content), and it features bands that went on to great renown (Entombed, Mayhem, Therion, Dismember, Tiamat etc), as well as bands who never ventured much further from the cult/demo stage (House of Usher, Nirvana 2002, Traumatic etc). All in all, a hugely influential album which helped to pass the then obscure music around the world in one lovely CD, released on CBR (Chickenbrain Records).

Vital Remains - Let Us Prey / Into Cold Darkness

These death metal titans started out life on Peaceville offshoot Deaf Records with their rumbling nasty piece of work of a debut, 'Let Us Prey'. Nice, angry old school death metal. Their second album 'Into Cold Darkness' is also a crushing piece of work. Both original very first pressings and well worth tracking down.

Voivod - War & Pain

Here's another title which I added to my collection for one reason - adding to my roster of Roadracer Records Price Killers series of albums! One of the easier ones to find, this is the feral debut album from Canadian thrash legends Voivod (as if you didn't already know). Whilst not their masterwork, there is a lot to love about this album's scathing sound.

Virus - Lunacy

In addition to my earlier post about UK thrashers Virus (their compilation album which can be found elsewhere on this blog if you'd like a quick search), this is their final (and best album). Basically the majority of the really mature, good stuff off of their aforementioned 'Warmonger' compilation came from this album. Chuggy thrash awesomeness, well worth seeking down if you can find a copy. An original press on Metalworks.

Vomitory - Raped In Their Own Blood

The 1996 debut album of these long running Swedish death machines shows only glimpses of what was to come in their later works. Plenty of potential for sure, but a rough and ready version of the audio carnage which was to spill in the years afterwards. Also, the bonus of inadvertently comical cover art is always nice - haha. This is an original 1996 pressing on The Plague records.