With so many sub-genres of metal in existence, it can be difficult to stumble across an album that treads on untouched ground. Fans of obscure metal are sometimes left wondering where the genre can go from here. Thankfully, there are groups like WOUND COLLECTOR willing to push the boundaries of what extreme music is capable of. One could compare WOUND COLLECTOR to 90's jazz/death metal bands such as ATHEIST or CYNIC, but with a heavy use of saxophone similar to IHSAHN's "After." Their music is often characterized by a sort of frenzied, jazz-inspired schizophrenic mania intertwined with technical death metal riffs. While they may not be the first group to fuse jazz with death metal, or to combine sax with metal, they do manage to create an all around unique album.
Frontman Peter Verdonck is not uncommon to the concept of incorporating sax into extreme metal music. From 2004 to 2009, he provided saxophone and backing vocals for the female-fronted progressive trash/death metal group WRETCHED VIXEN. After releasing one demo and disbanding, Verdonck sought to find other ways to incorporate his saxophone skills into metal. Thus, he formed WOUND COLLECTOR in the spring of 2015. But this time around he also serves as the main vocalist. He utilizes a more old-school style of death metal growl akin to POSSESSED or ENTOMBED, as opposed to the immensely deep, guttural growl more commonly associated with modern death metal, while also managing to throw in some nice clean vocals as well.
The album kicks off with "Worship of the Aton." The song makes interesting use of middle-eastern sounding riffs in contrast to the death metal sections. There's also a heavy thrash influence, making use of dissonant riffs at time and fast-paced blast beats. The former half of "Recapturing the Throne" begins similarly to other songs, but halfway through Verdonck's breaks into one of his more smoother jazzy solos on the album. You're led through crushing riffs and then peacefully transported into melodic bliss. "Divine Music, Unholy Flesh" begins in stark contrast with a beautifully ambient choir before blasting off into a more dark, demonic sounding song, while songs like "Crucified to the Inverted Cross" waste no time jumping into a frenzied madness.
It's safe to say that WOUND COLLECTOR has managed to create a unique name from themselves right out the gate. "Eternal Bloodcult" is a strong debut from a group of musicians who are more than competent at what they do. The production is clear enough that each instrument can be heard without overpowering each other. With plenty of thrashy, headbanging death metal sections in conjunction with progressive jazz sections to keep the music intriguing, it will be interesting to see what the band has to offer in the future.
