Nightrage’s seventh studio release The Venomous comes riding in on sonic waves of melody and glory. The band let loose on their misanthropic journey by providing some of the catchiest, and most brutal melodic death metal of the year. The Venomous, from start to finish, is a blazing ride of adventure that consistently keeps listeners hooked for the next song.
Truly, every aspect of the band is at their best performance. Each song is full with clashing drum work, vibrant guitar playing, thunderous bass, and rich vocals. The structure is straight forward in some places, but this never stales out the music, given that everything sounds so alive. Opening track “The Venomous” bashes away at the drums, the guitar whirling about with brightness. The progression builds to a triumphant high that feels empowering, combining with the vocals to create a sonic and catchy chorus. There’s lots of that throughout The Venomous, and every damn time is absolutely fun. “Metamorphosis/Day of Wrath” steps away from the melody at first, providing an utterly chaotic and blistering drum intro. Blast beats grind away as the vocals rage, the guitar work gnawing away in savage speed. This all builds up to a piercing chorus section, lingering with darkness and electricity. Halfway through the track, there comes a brief solo with a smooth rhythm section, all happening before dropping back into that brutal atmosphere from the beginning.
“Affliction” takes on more of a steady approach in its pacing, slowing things down just a bit. The vocals get more spotlight this time around, bursting over the bashing drums and tension building guitar progression. “Bemoan” follows a similar pattern, tossing in a really juicy solo that balances the song’s gentle moments and constant beat downs. “From Ashes Into Stone” chugs away with punishing precision, shifting at times into majestic moments of fluid rhythms. The track comes with a thick drive that builds behind the guitar, all thanks to the driving force in the bass. “Desolation and Dismay” drives off into the night with tinges of despair in each guitar note. The song produces a somber aura in its guitar tone and vocal inflection, while the track continuously builds to relentless speeds.
Nightrage could have easily made a whole album that goes verse-chorus-verse, but instead, they went beyond that to create work that is engaging and chaotic. Nightrage have sincerely released their most clean, brutal, and powerful work of their career. The Venomous takes the listener from track one, guiding them through a fiery whirlwind of powerful melodies and crushing beats, all making for a majestic journey.
