Pyuria
Calliphora Vomitoria Introitus
8.1
So how many of you have ever wanted to hear what Immolation would sound like if they had an angry fistfight with At The Gates while both bands played the same show at the same time? Just for good measure, imagine some other terrific and brutal American death metal band, standing on the side of the stage just to throw loose change at the two to further agitate the situation. Okay, got that? Now imagine the lineup of Hypocrisy falling through the roof of this awesome scenario after being dropped from the spaceships they were presumably abducted with.
To be totally honest and fair, I was unable to come up with these names right off the bat. The At The Gates influence is pretty undeniable, but I had to consult other reviews in order to come up with something that even remotely mirrors and describes the songs on Calliphora Vomitoria Introitus.
What they're doing is so brainless in theory (merging together all of death metal), yet must be next to impossible, otherwise someone would've done it before. Ranging from slamming death metal, to grind, to a full-on nostalgic thrash - and even melodic Swedish metal, what really makes Pyuria worth your attention is their gift of being able to merge so many styles together without creating some sort of jagged patchwork. They deviate so far from their straightforward riffing without unsettling the song's tone in the least - everything's linked together exceptionally well through their use of intelligent progressions. I don't claim to understand it, just that I enjoy it. I'm honestly not a fan of the production on the vocals, which sound a little distant instead of being pushed to the forefront, where they'd work best for the music. They're also a bit on the typical side - I'd love to hear the band take a risk with some real outlandish screams and yells. The guitarwork is so damn good, whether Pyuria are playing simple chunky riffs or sweep-picking. The drumming's fairly basic, but their sound doesn't necessitate a complex method behind the kit. In other words, the playing doesn't feel flaky or inept, rather tailored for their sound.
They're doing incredible work, but it's lacking a lot of the elegance and finesse of today's larger label releases. Keep your eye on these guys however, and keep it closely focused upon them. Calliphora Vomitoria Introitus probably won't make my top five picks of 2005, however the markedly powerful songwriting demands your attention and keeps it. You might not find it in your regular rotation, but really, everyone should hear this. So in summary, this is a great album, but Pyuria are only going to get better and better. Believe me when I say I'll be waiting intently to find out where these guys decide to take their craft.
