Verminous
The Black Dahlia Murder · 2020
35 min · 10 tracks · melodic death metal
A relentless barrage of blistering riffs and intricate melodies, layered with haunting vocals that evoke a sense of dark urgency.
Top tracks — play these first
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Verminous — The title track encapsulates the album's essence with its furious tempo shifts and intricate guitar work, setting a high standard for the rest of the record.
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Godlessly — This track showcases the band's signature blend of aggression and melody, with a chorus that highlights their ability to craft memorable hooks within brutal compositions.
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The Leather Apron’s Scorn — With its atmospheric introduction and lyrical storytelling about Jack the Ripper, this song exemplifies the band's knack for combining horror themes with intense musicality.
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Dawn of Rats — The closing track features complex arrangements and a climactic finish that ties together the album's thematic elements, leaving listeners with a lasting impression.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong technical execution and varied dynamics but remains within familiar genre boundaries.
What we noticed
- The first five tracks maintain a high-energy tempo with aggressive guitar riffs and rapid drumming, while the sixth track introduces a slower, more atmospheric section.
- The interlude track 'A Womb in Dark Chrysalis' features ambient soundscapes that create a stark contrast to the preceding intensity, allowing for a moment of reflection.
- The album's closing track returns to a faster pace, culminating in a climactic finish that echoes themes established earlier.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo aggression
- captivating sonic assault
- focused headphone detail hunting
- intense energy for workouts
Maybe skip if you
- prefer light and airy sounds
- seek instant gratification tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on April 17, 2020, 'Verminous' is The Black Dahlia Murder's eighth studio album, following the critically acclaimed 'Nightbringers' from 2017. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their status as leading figures in melodic death metal while navigating lineup changes and evolving soundscapes.
- Stylistic neighbors
- At the Gates· Soilwork· In Flames
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Verminous 3:49
- 2 Godlessly 3:27
- 3 Removal of the Oaken Stake 4:25
- 4 Child of Night 3:37
- 5 Sunless Empire 3:57
- 6 The Leather Apron’s Scorn 3:33
- 7 How Very Dead 3:07
- 8 The Wereworm’s Feast 4:35
- 9 A Womb in Dark Chrysalis (interlude) 0:48
- 10 Dawn of Rats 4:35
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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