Hooked Flesh

I don't like most gore metal bands; I think alot of them hide a lack of talent behind a wall of noise, -buuut, Venereal Messiah play gore metal that I think is alot better than most, because there is some real tightness and originality in the rhythms that blat out behind the gurgling. I'm talking about basement stuff, not Exhumed or Drawn and Quatered and bands of that calibre. The basement variety has a special appeal to me because I think gore metal should sound like it's being played in a basement, if that makes any sense. In a way they remind me of very early autopsy in that the songs and chord changes are really catchy, in the sense that there seems to be a feeling of intelligence behind what is played. This is a demo in a very raw sense, and when the cd-r is labeled individually in felt tip pen, you know it's gotta be basement. But these are great songs! It took a couple of listens to really hear what was going on cause it's fast, but for instance the 1st song - Mortally Wounded is a really cool riff! The production is of course basement quality, but it's all audible. The bass-drums rhythm guitar are really tight, playing a whirling spinning pummeling sound. It's just cool music to catch a buzz to, or whatever else. The Autopsy sound is present on all songs to one degree or another. Hooked Flesh -the title track- is mostly mid-paced riffs, alternating with some faster parts, but the sound is very grisly in its production, which is just what I like. Precoital Evisceration is probably my fave on this 5 trk disc. There is some sound in the mix which I can't really identify, sounds like keyboards, but then it doesn't. It's touches like that that make this disc cool. Little touches of originality where there usually aren't on alot of other gore band's songs. Just to be complete -there are some great time changes on trk. 5 Eye Socket Sodomy, some slow grooves that are really great. I got this disc free-ya know?, but it is a really cool disc. Gore metal fans should really dig it.