III

The Cleveland trio known for its rowdy penchant towards all things monstrous and Samhain-related has returned with Vanik III, available digitally, on CD and 12" vinyl, under Toledo's Austenitized Records (current lowbrow purveyor, exclusively, of Buziraco, Devils, Isenblåst, Ophicvs and Volcana). Featuring front/axe man Shaun Vanik (of Vandallus and live Midnight reknown), Harlot's Grip journeyman Ed Stephens on bass and new drummer Steve (replacing Al Biddle), the Buckeye formation straddles grimy, albeit festive, lines separating traditional and speed metal with crustier punk vibes.

Former instalments Vanik I & II, while maniacally riff-strewn and rampant, shone out of their jocosely saturnine context and themes, alongside innumerable twisted guitar solos, which flew by like so many willow wisps in the wind. Humour was ever-present, as defined by 2018's Robert Calvert cover, "We Like To Be Frightened". However, the emphasis, herewith, throughout III's half-hour of ten throat ripping cavalcades - nine, whence considering spook show affecting, fifty second long, aptly titled "Gateway" introduction - lies within Shaun's motoring, life (and death) sized, fast-paced, hectic riffing.

The proper opening triptych of "Carmilla", one hundred second, haywire lick haymaker (also nobly captioned) "Running Wild" and most iconic, band representative piece, "The Creature", amply convince, whilst token slow-burn, doom-y meanderer "We Approach" levies ghostly balance and class to the arrangement. Together, with five minute "Corpse Room", these fail to fling us through haunted house as vigorously as first few, but, overall, each fits well inside III's framework, ending with pair of broomstick riding arse burners, in own right.

So much for crow's-eye view. As far as street-side zombi(e) dereliction goes, "Gateway", with its old school organ and creepily crepuscular rained-on-church sounds, permits "Carmilla" to bear fangs once preemptive and Megadeth-y, frantically jangling guitar riff bashes through at full throttle, followed by lively, livid leads. Duly, it's the spikiest, most haphazard or erratic cut, thanks to the souped up battery - Stephens' lightning blitz of a saw-toothed bass line resounds in full, shimmying glory. New Vanik-er Steve throws down like a sanguinary school of piranhas on the prowl, as the guitarists do their usual, spaz'd out thing.

A categorically menacing growl predating "Running Wild" puts that Warner Bros. lion to shame, as further ear ravaging, wildly fired off riffage ensues. It's also worth noting how adeptly Vanik handles itself on super short assaults of such Zeke styled, flash in the "van" nature. Due to milder, if not more vintage rocka-rollin', "Raging High" and "Deadly Beginning", as well as gruff, stomping closer, "Never Safe" (which contains riotous gang chorus), am compelled to muse on similarly evoking Boulder, of fellow Ohioan repute.

Although the sludge-y momentum of "We Approach" and hypnotic tale of forensic vertigo, "Corpse Room", take slight back seat to speedier humdingers, still fit III like a rubber bat hanging from the mantelpiece on All Saints Day. Still, if the entire deal rocked as hard as first half (including speed demon "Night Danger"), we'd be even more disheveled by Mad night's end. As an afterthought, Shaun's decryptable, albeit raspy and strangled, vocals evoke those of Midnight's Athenar/Boulder's Jaime Walters.

At first, I intended to save III for this coming dark season (the 31st) but couldn't wait, as it's invoked, daily - nor is Vanik a brand of pickles or shoes, as we now know.