The Death/Doom movement of the early 1990s has produced some really unique bands, some of them are still well known today (PARADISE LOST, MY DYING BRIDE, TIAMAT etc.), some less (BETLEHEM, EMPYRIUM) and some only have a small cult following, and wait in obscurity to be re-discovered. I've discovered some great Death/Doom albums thanks to recent renditions, the Swiss band SADNESS for example, or - a big personal favorite - cult Czech band DISSOLVING OF PRODIGY. Here's another band from that era that came to my attention and that is a testament of how interesting and vibrant Metal music was at that time.

The strangely named Austrian band VISCERAL EVISCERATION was quite short lived, but has produced a cult demo and an album titled "Incessant Desire for Palatable Flesh" (consisting off all the songs on the demo plus some more). Their debut was released by Napalm Records - an underground Austrian label at the time, that was signing bands like SUMMONNING or ABIGOR - but they've disbanded shortly after. Although they use straight-up Death Metal imagery and have gory and/or obscene sexual lyrics they actually played a mix of Gothic and Death/Doom. Their sound is melodic but also heavy and has been described as a blend of PARADISE LOST (and the other "Peaceville three" bands) and AUTOPSY - there are certainly very heavy Death/Doom moments in their songs.

The compilation consists of twelve songs, which includes all those that appeared on the demo "Savour of the Seething Meat" (track one to five, in the same order as they are on the demo) and seven unreleased songs, hence the title "Lost Tapes". Both "sides" are well worth listening. Three of the side-A songs are rather expansive compositions, one is a bit more streamlined, around five and a half minutes long. The opener "At the Epicurean Gynaecologist" (the song titles and lyrics are really something I have to say...) is worth mentioning, it has a pretty atmospheric synth intro, the song shifts between slower phrases and faster, groovier phrases with a driving  melodic riff. The slow phrase opens with somber operatic female vocals, there are weird atmospheric breaks in the song that sound like lifted from the Castlevania soundtrack, and there are nice PARADISE LOST-esque lead guitar melodies throughout the song.

The closer "Gangling Menstrual Blood-Broth for Supper" has groovy, almost upbeat sections with a bit quirky melodic riff, the chorus of the song is very somber and harmonious. There is some really nice harmonic interplay between the driving, melodic riff and the synth driven, somber parts in one part of the song. The B-side has some very interesting cuts on it, it's much less coherent, then what eneded up on the demo, but the material definitely has it's charm. In terms of production there are also big differences in quality. But the mellow song "Impassioned Arrousal" or the very lively "Butchered Magnificence" are genuinely catchy and fun to listen to. "Blood-Drenched Boweld in My Bed" is the most AUTOPSY-esque cut on the album, it sounds really evil and grimy compared to the other songs. "Tampon Gourmet" sounds a bit like a tong-in-cheek TYPE O NEGATIVE inspired Goth rocker.

This album can be a bit tough nut to crack, but VISCERAL EVISCERATION is really worth getting into, especially if you're a fan of Gothic Doom and Death/Doom. Riffs and guitar work are excellent and although the songs can feel a bit quirky, they don't meander without purpose.