Band: Witch Vomit

Album: Buried Deep In A Bottomless Grave

Label: 20 Buck Spin

Genre: Death Metal

Country: USA

Release Date: August 30th, 2019

Charting the musical exploration that the genre of metal has embarked on in the last twenty to thirty years is a monumental yet rewarding task. I humbly admit that listening to metal is a hobby of mine, and I am just scraping the tip of this massive iceberg. Amidst this hobby, an observation I have made is that there are so many bands that impart an original concept of their music to the metal scene, which in turn inspires and freshens the pool of ideas other bands borrow from and build on. This particular trait makes metal very unique and original. In a way, it is as if volcanic soil is continually added to a garden of fruitful ideas. One trend that I have observed recently is a number of bands that are calling forth the older gods of metal from the 90’s, borrowing their riffs and production and mixing it with more modern sounds and ideas. This trend has led to a collection of bands that are bringing back the energy of late 90’s death metal such as Tomb Mold, Of Feather And Bone, and Witch Vomit. With the crusty production of 90’s death metal combined with the clarity of modern technology, these bands have been pumping one good album after another that demonstrate a promising trend that will only grow more popular.

With this in mind, I will admit that my entry into the metal scene was due to progressive metal, and this combined with a background of jazz and classical music certainly brought forth the stereotypical snobby and pretentious demands myself and many fans of progressive metal have for the music we listen to. Nothing pleases me more than hearing something be original and creative with melodies, time signatures, vocal styles, etc. Thus, there are a plethora of bands that release good music, but I am left bored after a few listens and leave the record to collect dust. I should clarify that I don’t expect bottomless creativity from death metal. The whole point of this genre is for listeners of all backgrounds to revel in the filth and disgust this sub-genre has exuded since its inception. However, it is all too easy for death metal bands to stagnate and let their sound grow stale, and that is what I observe happening with Witch Vomit. Buried Deep In A Bottomless Grave is a solid and entertaining death metal album that will leave the audience stomping in the mosh pit, but it also indicates that Witch Vomit is not comfortable with leaving their comfort zone, which hinders Witch Vomit’s efforts in putting out new and refreshing material.

After back-to-back listens of Buried Deep In A Bottomless Grave and their previous album A Scream from the Tomb Below, I find that the latter has more deviations than the former, which leaves more to be desired from Buried Deep In A Bottomless Grave. One will find that in both albums, each member of Witch Vomit plays their individual role in dragging the listener down into a grotesque story recited by the likes of Cannibal Corpse. However, it is clear that Witch Vomit traded creative nuances for more straightforward death metal filled to the brim with speedy riffs and grisly chugs. The vocals are just as varied and masterfully executed, but the originality of the instrumentation found in A Scream from the Tomb Below seems to have been lost. After much pondering, I find that I am left with very little to say about Buried Deep In A Bottomless Grave. The 90’s death metal is present, and that is all one needs to know. I could expound on the gory imagery Witch Vomit conjures up, bringing to mind meat hooks gouging out eyes and shovels scooping out intestines, but its nothing novel. I could exclaim how energized and savage the riffs are, but its familiar territory to the experienced metalhead. Witch Vomit took two steps forward with their previous releases, but unfortunately has now taken a step back with Buried Deep In A Bottomless Grave. This isn’t to say that Buried Deep In A Bottomless Grave is a bad album, quite to the contrary it is an entertaining listen that will keep the listener occupied for a bit, but compared to their previous releases it hardly does the band justice. It seems as if Witch Vomit is trying to make their own version of Tomb of the Mutilated, but I find that recycling ideas without adding the original nuances of their own sound leaves the listener wanting more. Those interested should expect to hear a good death metal album that deserves some attention but lacks the creative spirit of previous releases by Witch Vomit.

Rating: 7/10

Tracklist:

From Rotten Guts Despoilment Buried Deep In A Bottomless Grave Dead Veins Dripping Tombs Squirming In Misery Fumes Of Dying Bodies

Total Playing Time: 27:48

Click here to visit Witch Vomit’s Bandcamp