WOMBBATH — Lavatory (review)

WOMBBATH — Lavatory album cover EP · 1994 · Death 'n' Roll Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
"Lavatory" is an EP release by Swedish death metal act Wombbath. The EP was released through Napalm Records in March 1994. It´s the follow-up release to the band´s debut full-length studio album "Internal Caustic Torments" from 1993. One lineup change has taken place as lead vocalist Tomas Lindfors has left. The vocals on "Lavatory" were therefore recorded by session vocalist Daniel Samuelsson (Disgrace, Corrosive Divine). "Lavatory" was Wombbath´s last release in their original run. They did actually record a full-length studio album after "Lavatory" and sent it to Napalm Records, but there was no response from their label, and after recording a 2-track promo tape they disbanded in 1995. None of the two latter mentioned recordings were released.

It´s not only on the lead vocalist spot that there have been changes, as the material on "Lavatory" is quite different sounding from the preceding releases by the band. Their 1992 demo, the 1992 "Several Shapes" EP, and "Internal Caustic Torments" (1993) feature a brutal US influenced death metal style (which doesn´t sound Swedish at all), but on "Lavatory", Wombbath play a pretty creative death´n´roll style, featuring many rhythmic changes, breaks, melodic lead guitar work, the occasional use of atmospheric keyboards, unconventional song structures and interesting musical ideas. The vocals are now semi-growling/shouting/screaming/cleans, instead of the deep brutal growling of the past releases. So in that respect Wombbath followed the trends of the time, and changed from a death metal act to a death´n´roll act, which I must say is a bit surprising if you´re familiar with the preceding releases by the band.

"Lavatory" features a slightly thinly produced sound, but it´s somehow still decent enough, and you´re able to hear all instruments and vocals in the soundscape. Upon conclusion "Lavatory" is definitely one of the most creative death´n´roll releases I´ve encountered. It´s a smorgasbord of different musical styles and ideas, and I´m actually pretty impressed by how many interesting sections and ideas are thrown around. As a cohesive listening experience, I´m not so sure I think all the parts and ideas work that well together though, and when I evaluate this EP, I find that I´m more intrigued by the boldness of it all than I am by the actual music. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.
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