First, in the context of this article, it would be best served to remain neutral in terms of David Vincent's past discography (GENITORTURERS, and his country persona).  This is immediately evident as pragmatic from the beginning of the title track of his new project, VLTIMAS's debut.  Armed with one of the most solid, liquidly flowing, brutal drummers, Flo Mounier of CRYPTOPSY fame along with the Norwegian riff-factory, Rune "Blasphemer" Eriksen, also of AURA NOIR and formerly MAYHEM.  Vincent takes command with the dominantly militant persona crafted through four albums of integral Death Metal history via MORBID ANGEL.

When contemplating the sound demonstrated on this LP, it is a mirrored reflection of a Metal fan's wish list in regard to each member's resume.  The following track, "Praevalidus," strong-armedly enforces this with its blend of the brutal tremolo-picked styles of USDM and NBM.  With the way dissonantly-resolved riffs a la "Wolf's Lair Abyss"-era MAYHEM collide with the fury of "Domination," the band's ethos is successfully, albeit blatantly, presented.

"Monolith," the first single and fourth track, is an exercise in brutal warfare.  This is conveyed by a militaristic, yet hauntingly resounding melody tying the song together.  It has one of those grooves that is not unlike those touched upon by BEHEMOTH at times, dark, yet heavily rhythmic and the syncopation is flawlessly achieved.  "Everlasting," the seventh track, features a riff that screams with infinite hostile mastery.  The sheer heaviness which is evoked by combining these guys' talent is beyond remarkable. The album is clean.  The production is smooth and organic.  The enormity of the chords played was able to be properly reflected, a studio success.  One has the vibe of sitting in the middle of a room where these guys are playing with amps screaming at the nexus in the middle, where the listener is positioned.  It is appropriately oppressive, crushing, and mammoth in all ways that should be.

There is no filler on this album.  Thus far this year, it is one of the best brutally heavy albums.  There are some surprises along the way, like clean vocals, but it all comes across as a deftly-played feat of pure Extreme Metal power.  For those of us who remember the early and mid 1990s, this combination of scenes is like a dream come true in many ways. Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.  A MORBID/MAYHEM collaboration with a truly precise percussionist, Flo Mounier, is demonstrative of some of the most epic and evil creative talent in the business.  Thankfully, all the good aspects of the past were reflected in the riffs and ideas represented.  It is going to be hard to top this for all-around appeal in the Extreme Metal arena!