Portland, Oregon's Triumvir Foul operates in almost complete anonymity. Its members also belong to the equally mysterious Vrasubatlat label and its handful of bands. Since 2015, the label has built a ravenous following as releases continue to arrive from Utzalu, Uškumgallu, and Dagger Lust. Yet, Triumvir Foul has seen the biggest draw. Fans clamored for the band's self-titled album, consequently making it the label's biggest moment. Historically, the band has explored themes of hedonism and corruption by employing Sumerian mythology as allegory. It is a unique aspect of the Vrasubatlat collective as each of the projects explores different themes. Triumvir Foul pushes deeper into their hedonistic ways on Spiritual Bloodshed, the band's second full-length album.
The now duo has built a rawer and filthier sound. The title track to Spiritual Bloodshed, for example, is an exacting and vile stomp of putrid death. Triumvir Foul comes with the same visceral carnage that bands like Autopsy and Morbid Angel brought in their earlier days. Swirling guitars and blasting drums swarm a listener with a deluge of shame and disgust. The duo's music becomes almost physically and mentally overbearing. As a result, it creates a turbulent and uneasy atmosphere which has always been a big pull to death metal's old school.
Spiritual Bloodshed has drawn a collaborative release between Vrasubatlat and the European label, Invictus Productions. The former is handling the cassette version while the latter is releasing CDs and vinyl LPs. The album arrives on June 2. Listen to the deadly title track below.
