Sweden’s VOMITORY have been brewing their own brutal concoction of death metal and thrash since they first formed in 1989 as a three-piece band. However, these guys aren’t the typical death metal that Sweden is currently most well-known for such as IN FLAMES and DARK TRANQUILITY. Instead, VOMITORY produces one of the most visceral and intense forms of death/thrash. Although the band parted ways with Ulf Dalegren for this album and added new guitarist Peter Ostlund, their new release Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize pushes their sound even further than before, and this time around they harnessed their sound with slick production courtesy of Rikard Lofgren and Leon Music Studio. This is easily the best material since the 1999 album Revelation Nausea, and the clear, in-your-face production does a fantastic job of letting the talent of this band shine through. Every instrument sound clear, and the vocals are as guttural as ever. Right out of the gates, the track “Eternal Trail of Corpses” hits you with blast beats and relentless guitar riffs. Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize partially leaves behind some of the thrash nuances these guys typically include in their music and instead favors a slightly more traditional death metal approach featured on tracks such as “Scavenging the Slaughtered,” the title track, and “March into Oblivion.” The aforementioned title track and “March in Oblivion” are some of the best material VOMITORY has penned in a while. The band sounds more rejuvenated after their relatively lackluster prior release of Primal Massacre that contained all of the elements for a great album but couldn’t quite execute in the delivery. The addition of the new guitarist is noticeable, although the overall sound of VOMITORY hasn’t changed. The guitar riffs and soloing are especially exceptional during the song “Defiles and Inferior,” which also features some excellent thrashy groove.

VOMITORY’s newest release is top notch death metal with some thrash thrown in for good measure as always with these guys. They have once again succeeded in demonstrating there’s more to Scandinavian death metal than the popularity of the melodic metal scene would have you believe. Prepare yourself for Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize to take control. (Metal Blade Records)