Year: 2022
Label: Dying Victims Productions
Rating: 8 / 10
Continuing to inspect the releases of Dying Victims that I've accumulated previously. Today we will talk about the debut album of the Austrians VENATOR "Echoes from the Gutter". Like any listener intending to listen to an album from a band unknown to him, I form my first expectations by looking at the cover. Quite often such a technique is misleading, but this time everything coincided. Clumsy, but atmospheric and slightly absurd cover (I also advise you to look at the covers for previous releases) in the style of the 80s embodies everything that “Echoes from the Gutter” is. This is real Heavy Metal with a real, 100% natural sound that quickly takes you ~40 years back. The style here is closer to groups like HEAVY LOAD, TANK, SATAN. Meaning it's mostly not about galloping rhytm section and guitar racing, but about hard rhytmic structures or riff spirals with some elements of Speed Metal. The first track is a bit meh, but the second one is a total hit, and there will be 3-4 more. In addition, the group, forgive this pun, gives out great solos in groups. The vocalist has a husky voice that is pleasant to the ear, and he knows how to take a high note at the right moment. What else do you need! Except for a greater stylistic distinctiveness, but in the megaconservative genre of Heavy Metal, this is very rare. It's enough that the guys have recorded some really great songs. Already during the first listening I found myself muttering "I'M A MANIC, MANIC, MANIC MAN” and something based on the chorus to “The Seventh Seal". This debut is undoubtedly successful!
English (UK) 
Крыўская