Vulture Industries

The Malefactor's Bloody Register

Dark Essence/Karisma 2010

I'll admit I was blown away by this eccentric Norwegian when I heard their 2007 album, the Dystopia Journals.  And I was further blown away when I witnessed them live in London.  Vulture Industries now return with another dose of dramatic strangeness.  The music is so expressive and dark, yet veers in unforeseen directions and Bjornar's vocals border on dementia.  For those of you unfamiliar with VI, there are similarities between the crisp progressiveness of Arcturus and VI, but VI borders closer to insanity in its attitude.  After the quirky intro Crooks and Sinners, Race For The Gallows opens the album in suitably bizarre fashion as jazzy beats and synth passages bounce off of leaping riffs to instill a sense of hysteria in the song.  A lightning strike of black metal vocals hit hard at the song's end.  Melodic metal explodes from the outset of Hangman's Hatch only to drop quickly into a lush guitar solo and thick bass.  Sawing grooves accompany subdued vocals as the song progresses.  The gang vocal and hip saxophone sections exemplify the musical gymnastic abilities of VI.   Unsettling time and tempo changes greet you as The Bolted Door slams out of the speakers.  A meaty rhythm develops only to bust into a stomping metal crush.  Psychedelic synths and a crunchy riff open an emotional journey through stripped down basslines and soaring vocal expanses on I Hung My Heart On Harrow Square.  A hint of doom tinges the swooning riffs of Crowning the Cycle.  A slowly burning fire is ignited by the guitar solo at the 3:00 minute mark.  Black metal vocals make a quick appearance as the song slowly crests towards its climax.  While not as mindblowing for me as The Dystopia Journals was, The Malefactor's Bloody Register is a worthy follow-up.  Vulture Industries continue to write gripping music that is emotionally and intellectually demented.  Listen to it and see if you can escape the asylum!