This Canadian death-cult with their debut release may well be unknown to many but when you realise that they have members of Sortilegia, Nuclearhammer as well as players having done live duties with Vermod and Antediluvian, well you are probably going to want to explore their form of harrowing abyssal death metal straight away. It’s only a 20-minute EP but it is guaranteed to terrify within a couple of seconds of pressing play. The group’s pedigree got them supporting none other than Profanatica in 2017 in Toronto too, so no doubt those that witnessed them have been patiently waiting for material to finally surface.

Comprised of 3 lengthy and horrid numbers along with a couple of short interludes, the length of which hardly befit their titles (The Dead Reek Of The Abyss Beyond The Light) this is intense and churning deathly blackness designed to consume its audience whole. Rumbling torment without need of introduction is quick to hone in on opener ‘Rites Of Ascendency.’ Guitars have an attacking sting about them, drums barrel and pummel to submission and there’s a thick and malevolent density about it all. The vocals from P.R. are gruff and growl in a rigid fashion without much in the way of diversity apart from extended rolling harshness. Nothing much changes although there is a snatch of doomy slowness before the tarry quagmire comes once more to the boil and bursts like a festering pus infected sore.

The 1st ambient interlude is almost a relief but as the sound of water ominously drips in this underground tomb it’s a brief respite before the next salvo of drums and grinding malignant guitars take up the seething clamour of ‘Bestial Blood Temple Of Ritual Predation.’ Easy listening this ain’t and the fold out CD illustrates this perfectly with one particular painting really emphasising things. A body is spread out, headless above a chalice overflowing with blood, entrails are torn from opened stomach cavity and skulls and decaying body parts litter the scene around it. Indeed, we definitely get the picture. The corresponding ‘Eradication Altar’ is an equally nightmarish scenario of inhuman violence put to musical form. There’s absolutely no respite now as the mesmerising hold of final track ‘Graveless Mass’ needs no bridge between voids and the repeated yell of “ritual” is recanted until silence is finally executed and sanity is slowly regained.

Having unearthed this sickening act from Vault Of Dry Bones, Godz Ov War have spread their contagion to this side of the pond and it is guaranteed to leave a carrion stench on the imagination of anyone who dares witness it. Nasty stuff with a future hopefully to still be written.

(7.5/10 Pete Woods)

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/blood-of-dead-god