Album Review: Chestcrush – Vdelygmia (Self Released)

‘Vdelygmia’ is the second release and first full-length by Edinburgh’s Chestcrush, the solo project by Evangelos Vasilakos. The Greek-born musician has recently published his first demo where Chestcrush presented their unique and crushing style of blackened death metal and grindcore, influenced by raging old school black metal and a shattering sludge/post metal sound.

We know, we enjoyed it thoroughly and you can read that review here. Now the time has come for the world to witness ‘Vdelygmia’ in its utterly terrifying yet fascinating might. Experience it for yourself on July 14th 2021.

Chestcrush proved to be a noisy beast on that demo and this full-length debut is no different. What is different, is the refinement of that noise and how such a focus on extreme can result in something that sounds so damn dangerous. This is a dangerous sounding album but that just helps it stand out from the extreme pack.

Vdelygmia is a Greek word originally spelled ‘Βδελυγμία’ which means ‘abomination’, ‘filth’ and ‘repulsion’ of extreme levels and can be used both to define the feeling and a person, who is sorely corrupted and depraved.

Is there a better summation of the obscenities this album showcases? From beginning to end, it conjures up images of rolling in thick sludge, forced to chew on rotting meat to survive, driven to madness as the mind slowly collapses under the weight of such horror.

This is extreme metal that throws a ton of genres into a pot and creates a stinking concoction that you initially have to force down the throat. Only then do you find yourself enjoying it and drinking as deeply as possible. It will fuck you up but who cares? Chestcrush don’t and neither should you.

Nine tracks of cruelty and barbarity, Chestcrush make no apologies for their extreme leanings and why should they? Vdelygmia is the bar setter and it’s a high one.

Chestcrush – Vdelygmia Full Track Listing:

1. The Digester
2. Different Shepherd Same Sheep
3. Grudge
4. Theocracyst
5. Burden
6. Let Them Crawl
7. Skullcrush
8. Vothrodoxia
9. Vaptizetai O Doulos

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