EP Review: VHS - Lenzi
Reviewed by Sam Jones
VHS may have only been on the extreme metal scene for just under a decade now but they’ve already built up a surprisingly impressive catalogue of prior material for fans to discover and work their way through. Formed out of Ontario, Canada, the band’s vibe is one that stems back to the days of vintage slasher horror (more than likely the reasoning behind their name too), releasing their first full length record, titled Screaming Mad Gore, back in 2016. Ever since then, the band have nothing less than assaulted us with additional content by every passing year whether it concerns Singles, slews of Eps, various Splits with Ruin, Oxygen Destroyer, Goremonger etc. We’ve also received another three studio albums in that time too, their latest seeing the light of day back in 2021 titled I Heard They Suck… Blood. That now brings us to this latest offering, a new EP titled Lenzi. I was curious to give this a go seeing as it was my first exposure officially to VHS as a band, so I went in read for anything the band may throw my way.
Stylistically I liked how VHS didn’t immediately throw us into the madness straight away. Using several vintage soundclips warning of violent and disturbing content within, the band then throw in a pretty relaxed bassline that only continues to permeate the first track. It’s oddly unsettling, as if the bass is in fact the real horror as the band soon unveil before too long. Eventually, the band give us the aggression we’re seeking but it isn’t just a straight 9 minute affair of ferocity in your face; I was continuously surprised by how streamlined and coherent the songwriting soon became. The band’s Grindcore element certainly appears reserved only for key moments within their songwriting, otherwise allowing the rest of their sound to be this murky and atmospheric death metal piece.
As we mentioned previously, for the most part, the band’s songwriting is actually simplified and easy to follow. The band may utilise a bellowing and deep vocal delivery, and a guitar sound that’s concrete in its own tone, but that never stops the songwriting from being the inclusive ride the band wanted their sound to be. This was my first listen to VHS and I’m frankly impressed with their choice to render their songwriting with this level of straightforward planning and flow; aside from one or two more ferocious outbursts, the band are playing a very rudimentary form of death metal that doesn’t try and push the envelope all that much. In this respect, there are many conventional heavy metal elements flowing through this EP, the band evidently aren’t looking to devastate your senses. They want you to come along for the ride, they want you to feel engrossed and immersed within what they have to offer. These tracks are 9 - 10 minutes long and, while there are only two songs on this EP, I still had no issues at all with the pacing or length of songs the band provided here for us, especially when the pacing is pretty steady and doesn’t pick up all too often.
The band’s atmospheric element doesn’t feel forced either. When you’re experiencing this EP, the band’s external touches like those vintage soundclips, synth work and other pieces of atmospheric immersion never feel like they’re being thrown in your face in some dire attempt for the audience to acknowledge the immersive aspect of the songwriting. The atmospheric element isn’t eternally pushed on us; much like the more aggressive facets of this EP, the atmospheric side of things only becomes noticeable here and there during key moments in each track’s structure. As a result of the atmospheric locations, it feels heightened and much more important to the overall structure of a track than if they had been present throughout the entire runtime. Key segments of tracks feature these soundclips and therefore, the impact they provide is much greater.
In conclusion, this EP may only sport two tracks altogether but, we mustn’t let that misconstrue us into thinking it’s worth is suddenly lesser because of it. Two tracks here cover just under 20 minutes of time but it doesn’t feel like it, this EP feels like a breeze to experience and total ease to listen to all over again. I knew of VHS’s combined style of death metal and Grindcore, however I’m particularly pleased to see they don’t simply let the allure of devastation go to their heads. I for one loved the stripped back and straightforward songwriting the band gave us throughout this EP. It’s to the point but more importantly, it allows a coherent comprehension of what their sound is so there’s no confusion over what kind of band VHS are. As a result, coupled with the atmospheric aspect too, the band adopt this storytelling vibe that only feels additionally fleshed out as the soundclips play for us at specific moments in their songwriting. When the band have a new album for us, I know I’ll be there waiting because I really enjoyed what I received with this EP. I know many others shall as well.
