Vesen 

Goat Carcass Rising

Axis Music 2011

Seeing a fledgling band develop over the years into a crushing force of musical destruction does my blackened heart good and that's been my experience with Norway's Vesen.  Ever since their demo days up until their latest opus Goat Carcass Rising I have witnessed them grow stronger and more confident.  And we now have their most powerful album to date.  After the slow boiling intro of Ave Nihil (part 1), Mindfield Paranoia kicks in your teeth.  Utilizing a motoring groove and some dirty rock sensibilities in their leads, Vesen embrace a meaty midtempo romp on the song.  The track closes with a melodic, almost melancholic lead.  A faster, black thrash set of riffs slice through the speakers like rusty knives on Flies To Shit.  More muscular riffs settle into a venomous groove as Goatskin gets underway, only to reveal an ear-capturing drum section and a midtempo stomp.  There is a strong black metal undercurrent here as well.  This becomes even more apparent on a track like Famous Lost Words with its blasting drums and hyper-sawing rhythms.  These are swept clear by menacingly swaying riffs, perfect for headbanging.  Becoming even darker and more dangerous, Monumental plunges into black metal explosions like a volcanic eruption.  Blast beasts are interspersed within diabolical grooves.  At the 2:35 mark we even are ravaged by a Darkthrone-esque Nordic melody.  The track finishes off with some Voivodian weirdness and dissonance.  A feeling of melancholy undercuts the thrash riffs and choral vocals of the album closer, Ave Nihil (part 2).  Thomas's vocals are drier and raspier than ever, but a liberal sprinkling of gang vocals (such as on Flies To Shit) make the lyrics hit even harder.  As their most varied album, Goat Carcass Rising just goes to prove that Vesen are force to be reckoned with.  Overshadowed somewhat by their Norwegian peers, hopefully this album gets the spotlight focused squarely on their freshly bloodied fists!  It's time to pummel your ears with some serious blackened thrash!