Not often enough does someone dig deep into the beginnings of death metal and pull out a real gem. And it is odd to think that you and four other people share the same enjoyment of this disc, revel in its glory, and smother one’s crotch with relish. Viogression’s Expound & Exhort is one of those gems and it gives the owner a sense of pride, just like that guy at a show that spend $300 for a Gorguts longsleeve from 1991 on e-Bay, complete with armpit holes, pizza stains, and remnants of a lonely, erotic Friday night.

But like a fresh, new porn site, like of Latinas working and bending over while vacuuming, fixing cars, and making bagels, old death metal can breath new life into a soft dong. This album, considering its release date, is powerful and dare I say, unique. Viogression lay down eleven tracks of monster death metal, in that slow, prodding way like old Obituary, with Tardy-esque raspy vocals. I cannot speak enough about the slower riffs on this album and how they continue on endlessly. Of course, there is some mild shredding but it is not long before you are back to doomy riff and crying. Add to this plenty of harmonics (like at the beginning of "Transmigration" and frequently in "Winds of Death"), and you have quite the depressing album.

I don’t think I am knowledgeable enough like those who claim to have eight-tracks of Morbid Angel and Chris Barnes’ jock strap, but I think it is safe enough to claim that these guys were one of the originators of the slow, prodding sound, made famous (or at least to us) by Autopsy. Obviously, this band is not well known but maybe they should. Maybe I will go to the t-shirt store and have them iron on Viogression in block letters, with “Slow Death Metal Like Your Mom Used To Make” with a picture of a simmering pot roast on the back. All of that, all on a wifebeater. In a small world of technical erections and senseless grind, sometimes it is nice to hear a band that comes up with a good riff and plays it over and over again. This may seem shitty to some, but for many of us, who laud the likes of The Day Everything Became Nothing and Cock and Ball Torture, a few good riffs played in a row is good enough.

Some things on the album are a little suspect, such as the odd chanting and other bad intros, muddy drums, awful album art, and suspect production, but it is a sign of the times. To be honest, I can’t really parallel this band with anyone else, and liken the some of the riffs to the slower ones on Gorguts’ Considered Dead. But, even that is a stretch. It also reminds me of Morgoth’s first two releases, possibly because of the vocals and leanings towards the slower side of things. This is a band worth checking out, especially if you enjoy a classic yellow cake with chocolate frosting for your birthday. No ice cream cakes, no pound cakes, no cupcakes, no Bill Cosby Jello pudding pies - just the old standard.

Written By: Double Ds