A big part of that comes in some very close parallels to hardcore and how, on tracks like Sadistic Rituals, there’s a pounding stomp that feels so much more menacing and devastating with the death metal production, to the point where Samsara becomes such an imposing listen on size alone.
That’s something that Venom Prison have long established in their writing, but even instrumentally, there’s such a contemporary air surrounding Samsara that really does surpass the vast majority of what the rest of the genre has to offer. That’s not to be confused with complacency though this is still a crushing, deeply evocative album from a band who continue to represent the new gold standard, and even without any sort of grand progression or reinvention, this is everything that death metal in 2019 should be. On top of that though, it also suggests that they’re on pretty stable footing to continue where they are, and that largely feels like the case with Samsara. There hasn’t been a death metal band in years that’s left its mark as deeply as they have, and the fact they’ve only been holding steady since Animus would suggest that this is a band in it for the long haul. Of course, it’s not like that was ever going to be the case for Venom Prison.
Uterine Industrialisation has already proven that this is not a watering down by any means, and the formidable reputation that this band have stacked up for themselves wouldn’t suggest that any too disruptive is coming to stop them from steamrolling over the competition once again. The indication of all of that would be a true force to be reckoned with, and indeed, militant live appearances and enormous media pushes have put Venom Prison right onto contemporary metal’s frontline, and with Samsara, that doesn’t look to change. It’s hardly difficult to see why either, with a sound that recalls that of death metal’s classic while still sounding sharp and unflinchingly contemporary, a lyrical focus that hits with depth and incision around profoundly modern issues, and in Larissa Stupar, a vocalist that has rapidly become a superstar within the scene in her own right. Since coming to prominence with their debut album Animus in 2016, Venom Prison have been regularly touted as one of the shining lights of UK metal, not only on the more extreme end but just in general.
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