Funeral Whore - Step Into Damnation [2012]

Originating from the Netherlands, home of the death metal masters in Pestilence and Asphyx, Funeral Whore is a band that isn’t very well known (at least not yet), and after years of doing only demos, EP’s, and splits, they’ve finally released they’re debut album, dubbed “Step Into Damnation.” It doesn’t follow in the same tracks as Pestilence, it being far more straightforward--at times droney--and crushing death metal throughout the length of the album, and it definitely conjures up some pretty vile sounds that are bound to get recognition among the death metal hordes.

Upon hearing the first few seconds of the album, one might be mislead to thinking that it’s more dominated by doom/death. True, “Wasteland of Corpses” is of the more doomy tracks on the record, and there are riffs that follow in the same style appearing on occasion throughout the record, but other styles mix in to form the end result brought to you in “Step Into Damnation.” There’s many moments that show the band’s appreciation for heavier and more evil death metal acts, and there’s also straight-up Swedeath worship sprinkled throughout (although not that much of it, but it does serve its purpose); not to mention moments like at 1:06 in “Eternal Genocide” or 0:44 in “Pierce My Flesh” that absolutely pound the listener’s ears with groovy, thick mid-paced riffs; as well as the Autopsy-inspired "Threesome." There’s also a fair share of tremolo passages here and there, but nevertheless, the most prevalent style on this album is that of simple, heavy, non-wankery, old-school worshipping death metal goodness in all of its might. Lead work isn’t very present, the bands’ main ambition being to produce candid and cruel death metal, but when it does crop itself up, it’s usually to deliver an eerie and droney passage that adds to the bands’ few different styles that are put into play. Melodies are also scarce, the practice of heavy death metal being ever-present. 

The vocals are akin to those produced by death metal acts that lean towards a heavier approach in their sound, being very low in tune and relentless in delivery. They aid in making the music as a whole come off as more evil, and they serve as a back-up for the guitars that are always chugging along. There’s not very much to say about the drumming, simply that it’s there and it does its job. No song ever reaches a mind-numbingly fast speed, and use of blast beats is not as present as in lots of other death metal albums. There’s not very much use of double bass work either, it being typically used only to pummel along with palm-muted guitar strumming.

“Step Into Damnation” is an album that will ignite nostalgia in thousands of listeners that are avid fans of heavy old-school death metal acts, and it’s one that will be played repeatedly in many CD players throughout the world. It has droney, doomy riffs--as well as other surprises that’ll sneak up on you--stacked on top of the well-loved death metal style that is known and praised by fans of the genre worldwide. It’s well on its way to year-end lists of 2012.

84/100

-SmithMetal84