Azoth

The Utrecht-based band Virulent is not entirely unknown in the Dutch Death Metal scene. The band made its debut with a two-track demo tape in 1999 after which they recorded the "Under the Hex of Amdusias" mini-CD released through Skullcrusher a year later. A CD crammed with varying, sometimes very fast Death Metal in the vein of Morbid Angel. Although the band had played live it all became a bit quiet and the reason for this became clear to me when I saw the band play live a short while ago. Virulent was furiously working on new material, three tracks of which ended on the self financed promo CD "Azoth", recorded at a local studio. Bearing the high quality Death Metal of "Under the Hex…" in mind I was very curious about the further development of Virulent, so I could not wait to ram the fresly obtained silver disc into my CD-player.

Opening track "Crowning The 4th Age" shows the progression the band made since the last release in 2000 almost immediately. Being not exactly a straightforward band back then, "Azoth" shows the world a band which is constantly improving itself, something the other two tracks on this promo ("Dreams of Disharmony" and "Zyem Carasophia") possess even more. And just like "Under the Hex…" I hear some serious Morbid Angel-influenced riffing and leadwork from guitarists Bert and Rene, improved since the last release whereas drummer Maarten beats seven kinds of very varying shit out of his drumkit. No superfast blasting this time, but more on the 'one foot blasts' side of the road.

And again Virulent manages to create a very ghoulish atmosphere because the lyrics are just as dark and occult as on the previous MCD, combining vocalist Jorres' typical vocal qualities (none of your basic ultra deep deathgrowl, which is nice for a change) with the sometimes bizarre Azagthoth-like leads and solos, working towards a sound of their own.
Yes, of their own. Although the usual Morbid Angel-style ingredients (leads, solos) are present, Virulent does its own thing by experimenting with tempos, the overall variety and the lyrical compositions.

Do I not have any criticism at all? Yes, I have. The drum sound on the slightly dry-sounding "Azoth" CD is just too flat, but on the other hand, the guitars are very prominently mixed. In short, 'who gives a rats' ass?'

Virulent delivers a masterpiece of Dutch Death Metal and if I had to name but one track that describes Virulent best, it would be "Zyem Carasophia", the only track which you cannot download from their official band site… Virulents' new piece of brutality is one of those rare occasions when I feel a band is more than ready to record a full-length and it is my sincere hope that a sensible label will come along to sign these guys. A must!