Belgian death metal masters Aborted are back with a brand-new album and, having teamed up with Nuclear Blast, the band seem to have adopted the “go big or go home” motto for this unholy effort. Comprising ten tracks, Vault Of Horrors not only sees aborted pay tribute to ten cult horror classics, including Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Mist; but each of the tracks features a guest vocalist from across the extreme metal firmament. With appearances from Alex Erian (Despised Icon), Johnny Ciardullo (Carcosa), Ben Duerr (Shadow of Intent), and Francesco Paoli (Fleshgod Apocalypse), Vault Of Horrors is an epic undertaking, driven by a great concept, hammered home by blistering performances, and sealed in its sarcophagus by producer Dave Otero (Cattle Decapitation), making for one of Aborted’s most blisteringly brilliant albums to date.
Kicking off with Dreadbringer, the band weave John Carpenter influences into the eerie introduction, evoking an air of dread before the band bring in the pain, slamming into the listener with bodily force. Ramp up the volume, and you can feel the waves of bass churning out of the speakers, while the guitars of Ian Jekelis and Dan Konradsson cut like razors. It makes for an exceptional entrance and, in a year that has already seen standout efforts from both Job For A Cowboy and Ingested, it still manages to up the ante. From the band’s insanely tight musicianship to the devastatingly crisp production, it’s a masterclass in extremity, and the split vocals of Sven and guest Ben Duerr are nothing short of breath-taking.
No eerie interlude appears to allow the listener a chance to recover, as Aborted simply crash into Condemned To Rot. With Francesco Paoli lending a hand, and Ken Bedene attempting to hammer his kit through the floor, the band conjure up a death-grind whirwind that simply flattens everything in its path, although elements of melody emerge in the form of some brilliantly understated lead work . Uncertain as to whether they’ve inflicted enough damage, Aborted opt for a neck-snapping groove on Brotherhood Of Sleep, where, with Johnny Ciarduullo in tow, the band seek to simply shred their audience. A stunningly brutal display of horror infused metal, Bortherhood Of Sleep is a towering example of Aborted’s visceral power. As such, as good as Death Cult is (and it is damn good), it cannot quite live up to the awesome display that preceded it, although Alex Erian gives it his all, and the band whip up quite the storm around him. The first half of the album comes to something of a breathless conclusion with Hellbound. With the band joined by Matt McGachy, Aborted simply unload upon the hapless listener, the relentless burr of the double kick giving way to a melee of overlapping vocals and anxiety-inducing guitar noise.
If anyone was in any doubt as to whether the band could maintain such a ferocious display, the sub-two-minute Insect Politics (feat. Jason Evans), lays said doubts firmly to rest. Necessarily brief, if only for the sanity of the by-now cowering listener, it is dispatched with ungodly speed, only for The Golgothan to rise from the depths. Like the foul shit-demon that inspired such loathing in Dogma, The Golgothan is a doom-laden song delivered with such crushing weight and overwhelming grandeur that it towers over the album’s second half. With Sven and Hal Microutsicos trading screams, it’s a monumental ode to extremity. The grinding The Shape Of Hate, aided by Oliver Rae, is a searing blast of death grind, offset by moments of bludgeoning weight, while Naturom Demonto takes things up a notch, the band apparently attempting to get themselves into the Guinness Book of Records for most concussions caused by a single album. It comes crashing to an end with Malevolent Haze, one last outpouring of feral hatred, Ricky Hoover and Sven competing as to who can wrench the most blood and tissue from their straining throats. With Dave Otero layering the band’s propulsive sound with bowel churning bass, it’s a thrilling conclusion that is only improved by the unexpectedly melodic coda that sees the disc spin to a halt.
2024 has already proved to be an exceptional year for extreme metal but, with Vault of Horrors, Aborted have upped the ante. These Belgian masters of extremity clearly dug deep, neatly combining their love of old school horror with their passion for brutal metal, and the results are devastating. With its typically brilliant Dan Goldsworthy (Jasta, Final Coil, Xentrix) art, Vault Of Horrors is a masterclass in metal, and essential listening for metal fans everywhere. Simply awesome. 10/10
