Scald - Vermiculatus
code666 - code029 - June 12, 2006
By Wayward_Son
Does one truly have a notion about what is to commence once the cryptic digipack of Vermiculatus is opened? Adorned with grotesque bodies covered in worms, the artwork only raises inquiries on what lies behind it. Once we find the cover holding the musical revelation, we see a ghoulish, worm-infested hand inviting us in to unlock the mystery that is Vermiculatus.
Never a band to be easily absorbed, Scald has been tampering with our musical souls since the mid 1990’s. With Born With Teeth and the two Nematoid demos, Scald established themselves as a richly creative and hard-working D.I.Y. act. The band’s first full-length, Headworm, would show daring music listeners what this unit is truly capable of giving. Headworm was, and still is, a behemoth of original sludgy, doom-laden grind surrounded by noise effects and three different vocal approaches.
And now, Vermiculatus. Gone are the vocals that lent Headworm so much magic. This is pure instrumental insanity in the form of a single 47-minute track. The first half is an amazing display of labyrinthine songwriting with no repetition. If that sounds like a complicated listen, you are correct. There is hardly a moment where one can latch onto and not feel a sense of the chaotic due to the constant changes. Therein, lies its genius. The guitars rage and dwindle, the bass pulses and fades, and the drums pound and wane, while you, Faithful Reader, revel in the unknown and unpredictable mammoth that is Vermiculatus.
Our continued journey with Scald takes us into the second half of Vermiculatus, which unfortunately, is not nearly as compelling as the first. Basically an ambient reconstruction of the initial part, this seems more like a journey in noise, rather than music. This writer has never been one for the noise-as-music theory, however, there are parts in this sound collage that can create an abyss-like, apocalyptic feeling, which is a positive.
So ends our journey, Faithful Reader. Vermiculatus is a truly progressive album from a band that continues to challenge listeners. It may not be the best album in your collection, but it is most certainly one of the most rewarding. Each time played will only reveal another piece of the puzzle, but the cost will be too much for most to bear.
Official Scald Website
Official code666 Website
code666 - code029 - June 12, 2006
By Wayward_Son
Does one truly have a notion about what is to commence once the cryptic digipack of Vermiculatus is opened? Adorned with grotesque bodies covered in worms, the artwork only raises inquiries on what lies behind it. Once we find the cover holding the musical revelation, we see a ghoulish, worm-infested hand inviting us in to unlock the mystery that is Vermiculatus.
Never a band to be easily absorbed, Scald has been tampering with our musical souls since the mid 1990’s. With Born With Teeth and the two Nematoid demos, Scald established themselves as a richly creative and hard-working D.I.Y. act. The band’s first full-length, Headworm, would show daring music listeners what this unit is truly capable of giving. Headworm was, and still is, a behemoth of original sludgy, doom-laden grind surrounded by noise effects and three different vocal approaches.
And now, Vermiculatus. Gone are the vocals that lent Headworm so much magic. This is pure instrumental insanity in the form of a single 47-minute track. The first half is an amazing display of labyrinthine songwriting with no repetition. If that sounds like a complicated listen, you are correct. There is hardly a moment where one can latch onto and not feel a sense of the chaotic due to the constant changes. Therein, lies its genius. The guitars rage and dwindle, the bass pulses and fades, and the drums pound and wane, while you, Faithful Reader, revel in the unknown and unpredictable mammoth that is Vermiculatus.
Our continued journey with Scald takes us into the second half of Vermiculatus, which unfortunately, is not nearly as compelling as the first. Basically an ambient reconstruction of the initial part, this seems more like a journey in noise, rather than music. This writer has never been one for the noise-as-music theory, however, there are parts in this sound collage that can create an abyss-like, apocalyptic feeling, which is a positive.
So ends our journey, Faithful Reader. Vermiculatus is a truly progressive album from a band that continues to challenge listeners. It may not be the best album in your collection, but it is most certainly one of the most rewarding. Each time played will only reveal another piece of the puzzle, but the cost will be too much for most to bear.
Official Scald Website
Official code666 Website
