Levitating in their grime-rendered depiction of a skybound abomination mid-birth with all manner of unthinkable monstrosities oozing outward Hanoi, Vietnam-based death/doom metal duo PUTRID VOMIT CHRIST arrive upon a modern high-enough standard for doomed death metal on this second demo tape. As they muse over the horrors of a thousand tendrils’ scourging ‘Perpetual Intercourse‘ rings of an above-average arc for their particular niche as a mechanically sound, riff-focused entrant which readily suggests pro-level insight. What this first step fully lacks in unique personage is made up for in capability, a general awareness which crafts sinister and cavernous doomed death with a rasping volatility to its verbage without the usual amateurish hindrances. Just as any demo should, this tape “sells” the ear quickly upon introduction without yet revealing the entirety of their intent/capability just yet.

With a handful of cross-eyed riffs and sludge-rasped vocals Putrid Vomit Christ trod into view this year making a quick and dirty first impression and their first shot was most likely missed thanks to the limited cassette (15 copies) release of their first rehearsal/live demo tape back in August. The first impression given from that tape was that of a noise/sludge band with some blackened death ideas in mind, something like bestially sourced black/doom at a glance but with a death metal impetus. This second demo tape shows what these folks are capable in a studio setting and with a session drummer elevating their material even more.

If you’d like fast an easy access to why this demo is notable let it all unlock at once via opener “Vacuous Ecstasy” a song which recalls the early efficacy of Hooded Menace (see also: Coffins) as their mid-paced death metal bent doom riffcraft finds its stumbling walk. This particular demo-level sound compounds the echoic riffcraft of Desecresy on some level (~4:23 minutes in) but also fires off a High on Fire-esque groove beyond the ~4:49 minute mark helping to keep things sounding contemporary and familiar at once. Rasped vocals from I.C. lend a more sinister affect to the whole gig finding surreal, mid-paced black metal affect in a more profound way on “Putrid Vomit Christ”, another among the more representative tracks on the demo per its pacing and leading voice.

From there the rest of the tape flows pretty naturally between harder mid-paced Incantation-esque death metal movement and some blackened sludge/doom rolls through familiar riffs, such as ~1:23 minutes into “Dissecting an Incestuous Dream”, most of which feel pulled from the band’s favorite death/doom metal records and rearranged to suit their own purposes. The high point here for my taste will likely read somewhat straightforward as “The Sun… From Where they Excrete” recalls the transitional period of Runemagick from melodious black/death toward death/doom metal in the late 90’s/early 2000’s. This naturally leaves us to appreciate the shape of each song, the level of consistency upheld over the demo’s 30+ minute stretch, and focus less on any sort of potently original statement as their gig is still in the process of personalization.

The overall high first impression Putrid Vomit Christ makes with ‘Perpetual Intercourse‘ comes from quality sound design and confidently arranged, dramatic songs all of which read as above average for a demo recording. Style, composition and personae are luxuries to consider at such an early point in a band’s career and with this in mind this is an exceptional demo even if it is not an original one in any profound sense. It would be easy to say “sure, well above average” and give this band a pass to start cranking out full-lengths — the simplest possible result will appeal most broadly, though I would like to see the band brew something deeper set in its idiosyncratic points of interest. This result may be perfectly fine, a righteous standard in any case, though their high skill level suggests being capable of much more. In any case I hear plenty of potential whether their future is entirely straightforward or adventurous. A moderately high recommendation.

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