Album Review: Venom Prison – Samsara (Prosthetic Records)

Venom Prison returns with their blistering second album titled Samsara. Named after the Buddhist concept of being reborn into a never-ending cycle of suffering, the rising death metal outfit have laid their cards out on the table from the word go. Musically, the album is as abrasive as we have come to expect from this UK based five-piece; it’s as frenetic as their debut but delivered with a lethal power surge of confidence in their delivery.

“Samsara is more aggressive yet un-ashamed of dynamics. It recognises, that to in order to feel impact you must have suspense,” comments guitarist, Ash Gray. “To feel the hate and aggression behind low-ended discord you must feel the relief of layered melodic swells,” adds in fellow guitarist, Ben Thomas. With this approach, Samsara is a contrasting and confrontational offer that does not hold back.

“Lyrically, Samsara is a more personal offering as a vocalist. I wanted to talk about my own experiences of suffering and rebirth,” remarks Larissa Stupar. Her caustic delivery is laced with themes of femininity as she navigates her way around sacrifice, self-destruction and sadistic rituals. Interlinked with self-analysis and discovery. “I want to sing about things that matter to me,” adds Stupar. “It is a political thread of fury that delivers a lashing in the direction of human trafficking, forced surrogacy, capital punishment and the dismal trail of destruction left by societal architects and rulers”.

Samsara will be released via Prosthetic Records March 15th, 2019.

After blowing most of the metal world away with their debut album Animus, there is a certain level of expectation on Venom Prison with this follow-up. Expectation to prove that they’re not just a flash in the pan and that they’ve got longevity.

How do they do that? By releasing one of the heaviest and most intense albums you’ll hear all year. Samsara is the personification of anger, frustration and unbiased opinions. All filtered through the band’s wild and uncontrolled guitars, drums and vocals. The beast has awakened and it is very, very pissed off.

There is absolutely no let up across ten tracks as Venom Prison creates eye-wateringly furious noise. Matriphagy and Megillus & Leana showcase every bit of energy and fire the band has as the riffs howl and the vocals screech with terrifying levels of passion. It’s flabbergasting just how heavy both of these are and so impressive that Venom Prison keep control enough for the listener to really appreciate.

The unbridled anger that is housed inside every fibre of Venom Prison’s being continues to be showcased as Uterine Industrialisation, Sadistic Rituals and Implementing the Metaphysics of Morals come along. Each one more fiery and devastating then the last. Even the midpoint ‘breather’ track of Deva’s Enemy is filled with uncomfortable intent.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that Venom Prison have not mellowed in the slightest. Instead they are even more angry and outraged then ever before. The constant pummelling will surely be too much for some but if you can take the barrage what you’ll find is a strong and impressive follow up from one of metal’s most extreme sounding bands.

Venom Prison – Samsara Full Track Listing:

1. Matriphagy
2. Megillus & Leana
3. Uterine Industrialisation
4. Self Inflicted Violence
5. Deva’s Enemy
6. Asura’s Realm
7. Sadistic Rituals
8. Implementing the Metaphysics of Morals
9. Dukkha
10. Naraka

The album can be ordered now via Bandcamp as well as via Venom Prison’s official website here. Find out more via their Facebook Page and Twitter.