Well, I wonder what comes to mind when you hear the name Rats of Gomorrah. It’s quite vivid, isn’t it? But is Infectious Vermin as biblical as the band’s name might suggest? No, of course not! In Metal, brutal words are often used as salad dressing—they enhance the experience, but we could also do without them (this is the part where you confess you haven’t touched a salad in years). I know you’re here for the rats, so let’s get to it before wrath takes over again.
It’d be easy to say that Infectious Vermin is an old-school Death Metal album drawing heavily from bands like Entombed, Feral, or Paganizer. But as someone who devours Swedish Death Metal regularly, I can sense other influences. Rats of Gomorrah isn’t content with just being another retro band. There’s that familiar Death N’ Roll vibe, but the album also explores Doom and even flirts with Black Metal ideas. So, despite having tracks that waste no time—some feel almost like Punk songs—Infectious Vermin does a decent job weaving its various influences together.
Yes, there are harsh and rancid guitar riffs everywhere, blasting drums, and surprisingly varied vocals! That’s perhaps the album’s most diverse element since I wasn’t always sure which direction they’d take. It’s always refreshing to not know what’s coming next, especially when you check out hundreds of albums as a hobby. It keeps things interesting! However, even though this feels like a modified and cleaner version of Wolverine Blues, I do have a few notes to share with you, the obsessive Metal collector.
Despite its extra tricks and turns, Infectious Vermin is still a Death N’ Roll album at its core, which means rage and speed often trump depth and complexity. Even with sick guitar solos, this album plays it relatively safe and doesn’t take many risks. If anything, I’d say the people behind the project are clearly having a blast. If the rest of us dig it, that’s just a great bonus, but it doesn’t seem to be the primary goal. The music has that “basement band” attitude, which brings a certain charm.
I’m sure those of you who thrive on aggressive shouting and catharsis will find this album engaging and fun. It’s hard to get more direct than this in Metal without stepping back in time, but let’s face it—back then, everything was produced with the sonic equivalent of butts. I appreciate how Infectious Vermin manages to feel raw while being produced in a way that enhances the experience. Sometimes, it’s nice to have less toxic relationships, and this album is a good example of that.
Label: Testimony Records
Release date: January 31, 2025
Website: https://ratsofgomorrah.bandcamp.com/album/infectious-vermin
Country: Germany
Score: 3.5/5.0 for those who want it raw
Metal Eclipse Reviews 