Whip
Digitus Impudicus

Polypus Records 2013

Norway's Whip finally delivers a full length album after nearly 20 years in existence.  I am utterly surprised it took so long.  I remember when Fenriz sent me an EP of theirs and I was blown away.  But now I have their debut pumping through my ears and I must say I am a bit underwhelmed.  I was expecting something a bit thrashier but this somehow has a lot more black metal pulsing through its veins than I remember.  The first  track Sickling is an amalgam of sawing riffs, blasting segments that are bone-shattering, and a multitude of vocals.  Amongst the amalgam of metallic styles there are some grindy bits that surface, but in the context of the songwriting they actually sound more black metal.  A catchy initial riff flows out of Demon Rum before getting bogged down by some slightly uptempo black n' roll riffage.  Luckily the cycle repeats and I caught once again by that delicious riff.  A thrash break strikes before leaping into a blasting period and some rockin' grooves.  The constant change in styles leaves me almost delirious.  Up next is the very contemporary guitarwork of The Grand Sadistic Feasting.  Rasping vocals and borderline thrash riffs succumb to a dreamlike passage that calls to mind, something I might hear on an Enslaved album.  Razor Fucked dances around for a period before casting aside all pretentions with a hyper-intense gust of drums and guitars.  Then I am delighted to hear a great guitar lick that captivates me only to quickly fade into another maelstrom of aggression.  Feverish fretwork and flaying riffs encounter relentless drums on Terrorsatan.  The rockin' bass line of You Can Rot brings to mind some of Nocturnal Breed's raunchiest work.  The near-melodic guitar lines that surface definitely grab my attention before being steamrolled by some muscular grooves.  This album has a strong modern feeling that and all the pieces are razor-sharp.  Digitus Impudicus is a full arsenal of metallic textures and styles that can leave even the most seasoned ears dizzy.  However, all these styles are coarsened up and made cohesive.  But the modern sound and cleanness of the album makes it all sound somewhat flat to me.