{"id":1815,"date":"2023-05-16T01:05:14","date_gmt":"2023-05-15T22:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bagnik-zine.net\/?p=1815"},"modified":"2023-05-16T01:05:14","modified_gmt":"2023-05-15T22:05:14","slug":"%d1%80%d0%b5%d1%86%d0%b5%d0%bd%d0%b7%d0%b8%d1%8f-verwustung-gospel-ov-fury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bagnik-zine.net\/en\/arch\/1815\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: VERW\u00dcSTUNG \u2013 Gospel ov Fury"},"content":{"rendered":"

Year of release:<\/span>\u00a02019
\nLabel:<\/span>\u00a0Handful of Hate<\/a>
\nRating:<\/span>\u00a08 \/ 10<\/span><\/p>\n

In the few years that have passed since my acquaintance with VERW\u00dcSTUNG, the band has come a long way. VERW\u00dcSTUNG, from almost unknown guys who released a cassette on Aeon of Horus, turned into - I\u2019m not afraid of the word - celebrities of the local underground. The CD re-release of the album, concerts in large and small venues in Belarus and Moscow, a lengthy interview in Black Curse zine, after all - now the average Belarusian metalhead al least knows about VERW\u00dcSTUNG, even if he never heard their music.<\/p>\n

Mad energy, full dedication, simple image and unexpected, but always pleasant covers of the classic songs are always presented at VERW\u00dcSTUNG gigs. When I first heard the band live, I decided for myself that the studio recording in this case is in a losing position. I love \u201cThe Lash ov NIHIL\u201d, but now, after almost 4 years, I can articulate more clearly what its main drawback is: a small confusion, inconsistency, which in the live version always succesfully masked by the volume and active manner of performance. I will return again to the practice of comparisons with \u0160MIERCIE\u0160LAU, although it is no longer relevant. Radzim has the ability to endow songs with the most important feature that unites almost all of my favorite thrash albums. This is \u201cfluidity\u201d. The riffs cling to each other, the change of fragments occurs smoothly, so that the music seems to carry you on its wings from the beginning to the end of the track. There were a couple of such tracks on \u201cThe Lash ov NIHIL\u201d - for example, the starting one - but in general the album was full of abrupt tempo changes. This, of course, demonstrates the excellent skills of playing, but at the same time makes the brain stumble.<\/p>\n

The main achievement of \u201cGospel ov Fury\u201d for me is that it managed to get rid of this problem. Compositions have become noticeably more consistent, the transition from one riff to another now is absolutely logical. At the same time all the other advantages are carefully preserved, and some are even multiplied. The speeds are still high, the aggression is radiant, as if from a cracked nuclear reactor, and only scorched earth remains behind. There is also a graceful balance between thrash-till-death attitude and seriousness. The album resembles an insane dance on the stinking bones of the blazing world; everything dies? great, let's celebrate the Apocalypse! In short, no major changes compared with the debut, and this, of course, is good. The manner of playing \/ singing, the technical level - all this remains the same. However, I noticed a couple of cool guitar solos, which, it seems, were not presented on the previous album. Or I just forgot. Witnesses of the VERW\u00dcSTUNG concerts who heard \u201cDissolution\u201d and \u201cHellfire Rock\u2019n\u2019Roll\u201d already know what to expect. The lyrical component reflects the musical: almost in equal proportions, madness and reflections on interesting topics are combined. In this regard, \u201cGospel ov Fury\u201d is smarter than debut, where, as I recall, the texts were more in the vein of \u201cImpulse to Kill\u201d - a song dedicated to the honored chess player Alexander Pichushkin.<\/p>\n

One more thing that I would like to reflect on is sound. As far as I remember, the musicians mentioned that making it became a big problem, and I believe that they are not completely satisfied with the result. I have a feeling that VERW\u00dcSTUNG has not yet found its sound. owever, what should be the sound, I myself do not know. The sound of \u201cGospel ov Fury\u201d, in my opinion, is quite good, but a little dry and colorless. However, the dirtier \u201cThe Lash ov NIHIL\u201d also didn\u2019t sound perfect. The classic black thrash sound a la NIFELHEIM is clearly not suitable here. Perhaps, it is worth to use more low frequencies, add a loud, rolling death metal rumble on drums? Because \u201cGospel ov Fury\u201d, as well as the debut, sounds much better alive, even if we are talking about the club \u201cBrugge\u201d, the acoustics of which is complete bullshit.<\/p>\n

Finally, of course, about the physical edition of the album, and here we have a candidate to win in the nomination \u201cthe most beautiful Belarusian release of the last N years\u201d. The album was released in A5 digibook format that looks wild, almost like a real book. Importantly, the design style is made in the vein of the previous album. Each song has its own unique illustration, and the overall design concept is subject to the idea of \u200b\u200bthe \u201cGospel of Fury\u201d. Simple, like everything that is genuine. Details\u00a0on a video<\/a>. In Russia, you can order an album in Thou Shalt Kill! distro. In Belarus - at Possession Prods.<\/p>\n

\u00a0