Blunt Force Trauma -- Vengeance for Nothing (review)

Band: Blunt Force Trauma
Album: Vengeance for Nothing
Genre: slam death metal
Year: 2012
Label: Macabre Mementos Records

Made up of the former members of slam weirdos Jenovavirus, Blunt Force Trauma is slamming brutal death metal straight from Japan.  The one thing that seems to get thrown around when talking about these guys is their stark similarity to Dying Fetus.  It is obvious these guys took influence from the death metal icons (they're named after a Fetus song).  Despite these similarities, Blunt Force Trauma have engineered their own unique sound.
Upon listening to this album, a few things become apparent to the listener.  The first is the guitar tone.  It slices through your ears, and it's nice and heavy.  The drums also have a very powerful sound (especially that thumping kick).  Vocals are handled by all three members.  As a result, there is distinct variety with some vocal lines being somewhat intelligible and others being more primal and guttural.  The last thing that stands out is the sheer number of slam riffs that this thing packs.  The second half of "Forgotten Absolutely" is a slam riff extravaganza, and tracks such as "A Terror with Armed Intervention" and the closer "Inconsistency Politics" are merely vehicles used to deliver a plethora of slams to the listeners' ears.
One thing that really sets these guys apart from most slam bands is their fine-tuned sense of groove.  This album grooves harder than most in the genre.  "Blackboard Jungle" and "Live for Nothing or Die for Something" feature infectious rhythms, but "Exploitation of Humankind" tops them all with its furious grooves and rap-inspired vocal lines.
My only issue with the record is the "Intro" track.  I skip it every time, as "A Terror with Armed Intervention" serves as a better opener for the album.  "Intro" is good, it just should have been part of another track.
By the end of this album, I feel I can safely say that this is more than mere hero worship.  Blunt Force Trauma manages to slam and groove through ten brutal tracks resulting in a solid release.  You can give it a listen here.


Rating: 5 / 5
Top Tracks:
Live for Nothing or Die for Something
A Terror with Armed Intervention
Exploitation of Humankind
Forgotten Absolutely