Vehemency
As the artwork - morbid black & white imagery with red texts - imply, Regeneration Through Depopulation... is bestial black / death metal to the bone, no compromises whatsoever: influences of e.g. Blasphemy and Hellhammer shine through in these raw, ugly pieces of filthiness. Although Hammergoat’s debut offering is certainly not the most rememberable album in this field, it succeeds in creating a murderous atmosphere, and that alone gives the album enough merits in my books.
And what best, Regeneration Through Population... is a consistent whole: it runs for just 30 minutes which is a great - and almost maximum - length for this kind of savage metal that doesn’t show much signs of mercy. Somewhat surprisingly, the songs run for averagely long, for example ”The Aftermath of War” is close to the 7-minute mark and still holds my attention throughout. Tempos vary nicely from mid-tempo sections à la Archgoat to faster bursts. A Sarcófago cover of ”The Black Vomit” is added to the whole as well, so I believe you are very aware already what this album offers. Production-wise, Hammergoat manages to create a cavernous sound even if it doesn’t sound so filled with reverb, no, this sounds more natural than just a lame effect in the mixing production. So don’t expect to hear as deep and abyssal sound as Wrathprayer and Nocturnal Blood provide, this is somewhat muddier and rehearsal-like.
It’s hard to recommend Regeneration Through Depopulation... to anyone else than the old school worshippers of the Ross Bay Cult, other people will most likely consider this being really unoriginal - which it ultimately is but that doesn’t necessarily hinder from liking it - and bland. Of all the ’Goats out there, I would surely choose Archgoat over Hammergoat when I’m up for some ass-kicking darkness, but Regeneration Through Depopulation... is still a worthy investment to attach to your old school metal shelves. Heck, to me the album sounds even fresh right now as I’ve been surrounded by a dozen of post-rock experimental black metal fusion albums lately.