Death Metal has seen it's rise and fall amongst the tempest of differing metal-styles that was the 90's/2000's - before the world descended into the chaos that birthed the Kardashians. But from humble origins in Wales, and a little helping hand of the globe-trotting Russian-born vocalist Larissa Stupar. From Venom Prison; we have Animus.
Now, this record is filled with pride, distaste, anger, strength and most of all venom. It takes all the ferocity of 'classic' death metal and has combined it with the sheer impassionate rage that hardcore punk can throw up. Giving us one of the most brilliantly original whilst nostalgic albums of the past 10 years.
It's a wholly destructive cavalcade of emotion and dread. Beatdown's that will hit you like a shot of vodka to the eye, this album is musically brilliant. The barely contained blast of fury that is Perpetrator Emasculation is a brilliant fusion of death metal with a touch of hardcore. Not totalling encompassing that genre within their efforts but rather tastefully bringing it when needed, it helps lace the album with the energetic edge that has been lacking from Death metal.
Lyrically, Larissa decided to take a very direct approach. Calling out the rapists of her past, those cruel and unenviable souls who still feel it's their place and right to do such things. No. In the words of Ms. Stupar "You rape, beat and degrade. The time has come to pay. No escape, no escape!"; She also speaks about the casual misogyny that has followed and haunted the metal and death metal scene for years. And of course, a curious counterpoint on today's staunch view of manhood, brilliantly (if a little terrifyingly) depicted in the album's artwork.
I have a real respect and admiration for Larissa and Venom Prison - their brave agenda and attack on some of the biggest problems we face socially today is part of the reason for their rise to the spotlight. Personally I've not found a record this lyrically and conceptually direct and aggressive, and I love it. It's exactly what the world of metal has needed and alongside the likes of Rolo Tomassi's Eva Spence and Employed To Serve's Justine Jones - there are now more women than I can remember pioneering, pushing boundaries and standing as an imposing figure for girls and guys alike to look up to. There are no boundaries to what one can achieve if you put your mind to it.
What started as an album review, became a dive in to global sociology, world politics and the growing wave of pioneering female artists.
Debut album of political fury: 7/10
Top picks: Celestial Patricide, Corrode The Black Sun, The Exquisite Taste of Selfishness. Animus was released on October 14th 2016 (Deluxe Edition - February 23rd 2018) via Prosthetic Records:
https://venomprison.bandcamp.com/album/animus-deluxe-edition
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