Vaneno - Chaos, Hostility, Murder

Vaneno is a sludge metal band from Lisbon, Portugal who formed in 2017. Their latest release, “Chaos, Hostility, Murder,” is Their full-length debut; they have also released an EP. 

Apparently, just when I stupidly think metal can’t get any heavier, I get sent a promo that proves otherwise and further cements my ignorance.  Enter “Chaos, Hostility, Murder.”  I’m not sure if the title is a reference to what the music sounds like or if it’s some kind of take on the state of the human race.  Both?  Either way, this is one of the most vehement albums I’ve heard as we enter the second half of the year.  

While this album is rooted in sludge, it’s sludge on steroids.  If Crowbar worked out and started punching random people, this album would be the result.  Sludge is already abrasive anyway but this is pure,  unfiltered raw metal muscle.  

The way the band handles such unbridled aggression is impressive and it really doesn’t end until the album does–from one track to the next, it’s a beatdown.  I suppose the opening song could be considered the climb before the fall as it’s just an intro but “DQSFLQSF” is still a short but sweet banger.

“Eldritch Truth,” plays off the intro well, continuing the themes and ideas.  The riffs hit hard, fast, and it’s hard to ignore the power of the drums which compliment the song even while making it 10,000 times more heavy, as if that was possible.  Vocally, it’s a classic take on sludge with clean vocals that are rough and nearly total growls.   The guitar solo in the later half is pretty vicious too, something I don’t hear a lot in modern sludge.  

The title track begins with a beefy, main riff that wastes little time in getting the song started.  And that’s really the magic of this song, and the album as a whole:  within seconds, and then within any given moment on the album, I was thrown fully into these dangerous waters by being held hostage by a massive sound that seems endless with its pain.  Another kille solo is found later, showing casing how badass they are in keeping them in line with the rest of the songs so they  only add to them and not distract.

Let’s talk about “Sludge Hammer.” Of course this album would have such a song title.  I’m trying to picture a sludge hammer in my mind—and it ain’t pretty.  But this isn’t pretty music for pretty people.  Like the images that conjure in my head, this song is sick as hell with nasty riff after nasty riff.  It has a thick groove that is suffocating yet the band plays open enough to change it up when need be, such as in the mid section with the doom rhythm riffs and the mind blowing solo. 

“Yeti,” is the soundtrack of being torn apart by a yeti.  Or maybe it’s the soundtrack of someone who gets really excited about Yeti, who have a large variety of outdoor recreation products including but not limited to coolers, drink-ware and other related gear.  Ahem.

The lead guitar in the song’s halfway point adds a psychotic, dizzying effect to it which only perpetuates the madness of the hammer drums and avalanche of bass.  After the 2:40 mark, the band goes balls out and just flat out ends my ears with an unrelenting rampage that was sure was going to collapse my mind.

Vaneno’s “Chaos, Hostility, Murder,” is such an abrasive, extreme album that I can’t see why any metalhead wouldn’t want this in their collection.  It’s zeroed in on maximum carnage and you’ll have a smile across your mouth even as the blood from your ears wets your lips. 

Rating:  Great