Sync

“Doomwhore.” Now, there’s a song title. It’s the third track from Fayetteville death metal trio Vore’s newest album, the nine-track Gravehammer, and it’s hard believing three guys could create such a roar. Really, that could be said about the whole album, as it’s one super heavyweight of an album. Fifty-two minutes of sonic violence built upon a foundation of thunderous double-bass drumming, massive rhythms, and the growling of lead singer and guitarist Page Townsley.

But even behind the growl and tempo changes, there is a story being told, and “Doomwhore” is one of the album’s best. The tune begins with percussive explosions by drummer Remy Cameron and bassist Jeremy “Skullcrusher” Partin before the aggressive main riff kicks in. Inspired by Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air (itself a tale of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster where eight climbers died), Townsley describes the deadly majesty of the “Holy Mother” in his guttural howl over the crushing music: “Shadow upon creation/crowned in mist/over frigid winds/dark shapes drift.”

It’s a malevolent tune, both lyrically and musically, describing a hostile environment with brutal music, but it’s a tune that perfectly describes the sound of Vore, a band that has been perfecting its blend of death metal since forming back in 1994. Sure, the sound is the extreme sound of heavy metal, punishingly loud and built upon tempo-changing music that goes from a doom-laden, jackhammer riffs to speed-of-sound guitar leads in an instant. But behind the complexity and loudness, the three guys from Vore deliver intricate, intelligent music — no matter if they are singing about golems or tyrannical priests. These guys actually care about the craft of the song, and while they deliver these tunes with a maniacal power and heaviness, the trio isn’t simply blast beating and riding pure-speed riffs. While markedly different from the sludge-y, Southern metal scene, the band’s tempo, although heavily influenced by classical European/American thrash metal, is still a little slower than most death metal bands.

Gravehammer, released in December 2011, is Vore’s fourth album and the first since 2005’s Maleficus. Recorded by Doug Horton at Ozark Film & Video Productions in Springdale from the summer of 2010 to the fall of 2011, Gravehammer encapsulates Vore’s death, thrash and traditional metal influences in creating atom-bomb sized metal.

“Page has always been the main songwriter for the band, coming up with the vast majority of riffs and lyrics,” says Partin, a North Little Rock resident. (Both Cameron and Townsley live in Fayetteville). “Metal is a formidable art form. Done right, it can be extremely powerful, particularly in a live setting. It is also very innovative — continually evolving and trying to find new ways to be heavy. You don’t see that creativity as much in, say, country or the blues.”

The changing Vore sound is probably best found in Gravehammer tunes such as “The Unseen Hand” — the shuffle rhythm in the verses is a new riff for the band — or in the title track, which Townsley describes as “one of the heaviest songs Vore has ever written.” Elsewhere, the band explores downpicked riffs on “The Cruelest Construct,” a crunching attack on “Throne To The Wolves” and bolting guitar solos on tunes such as “The Claw Is the Law.”

Now, is Vore’s death metal music for everybody? Of course not. But music fans broadening their musical taste will discover a mature work from a band that is just hitting its stride. It’s crushing and growing, but Vore doesn’t skimp on the melodies or stories behind the sonic assault with Gravehammer.

As Partin says, “For the first time in this band’s lengthy existence, we feel that we are firing on all cylinders and that there is absolutely nothing holding us back. You’re getting Vore now at our very best.”

SEE THE MUSIC

Fayetteville death metal trio Vore will make two Little Rock appearances in February. First up is a Wednesday night appearance at Juanita’s, as the band opens for pioneering metal outfit Anvil. The music starts at 9 p.m. with fellow Fayetteville metal band Scorned, and Little Rock sweaty and loud rock ‘n’ roll quintet The Wicked Good also on the bill. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18.50 day of with the doors opening at 8 p.m.

Vore returns to Little Rock on Feb. 18 at Downtown Music for the release party for its newest album Gravehammer. The band headlines a night of music that includes Little Rock down-tempo metal act Crankbait, Kansas City horror-influenced death metal act Troglodyte and Little Rock horror punk quartet The Kill Crazies. The doors open at 8:30 p.m. with the music starting at 9 p.m. Cover is only $5.