Vintage Flesh-Hour of the Night Gaunts

Artist: Vintage Flesh

CD Title: Hour of the Night Gaunts

Label: Vintage Flesh

Genre: Horror Death Metal

Website: www.facebook.com/letsgetinverted

Reviewer: Scott Sweet

Date: 5-17-11




According to vocalist/drummer Raynard (Raypissed) Stevens, this is the second and last Vintage Flesh release.  From now on, you can hear them as Inverticrux.  The crew for this 2010 CD includes Reverend John Hex (guitar/synth) and Terry Savastano (guitar).  Remember, it's not RAY Stevens; that is a verrrrry different style of music.  (Google "Guitarzan".)

This band is not lazy.  Their songs cover all the genre basics - spoken interludes, haunted house synth, shrieking vocals and classical touches.  It's not overdone in that it doesn't sound like a full symphony with triggered drums and an infinite budget.  Going with falsetto shrieking instead of I-Am-a-Cave-Giant-with-Bronchitis growling makes the lyrics much clearer.  The wailing solemnity suggests many nights of Hammer films and open-mike nights in the fifth circle of Hell.

Though the thirteen songs are long enough to satisfy, Vintage Flesh doesn't burn time on guitar solos.  The vocals stay in front while the music settles into a Neurosis vibe.  There's enough rhythm and melody to give the singer firm footing.  Nicely arpeggiated guitar lines appear on the title track and in "Pities Long Broken Urn".  Several tracks feature either waltz or swing drums.

"Hour of the Night Gaunts" is steady and sturdy.  While the music harkens to 70's proto-metal, the vocals sound like three demons possessed by four demons.  Side note: the CD art is courtesy of Raypissed, showing the skill and detail he uses as a tattoo artist.