Release date: 09.01.2026
Label: Caligari Records
“Noxious Emissions” is the debut EP from a new death metal outfit, Voidhämmer from Long Beach, California. Note the umlaut! Voidhämmer play a death metal style which is a mix of filthy, putrid sounds with the drive of a crusty punk band. This three piece’s debut EP consists of four songs with a total runtime of almost fifteen minutes long.
Deep diving into the music, “Rotting in Excrement” opens with a mid-tempo catchy riff before the blast-beaty bits start. You can hear a clear d-beat style drum pattern which drives the song forward. This is evidenced in the next song “Cadaveric Bloat” too but this time the guitars have that traditional punk/crusty opener. But the song quickly changes to distinct death metal riffing and at some instances slowing down further to create crushing doom-y moments. “Phosphorized” is next, which is very much in the similar vein as the previous track. The final track “Coffin Leakage” feels like a circle-pit song, probably the catchiest song for me which activated my stank face. The song maintains good tempo changes to not make it monotonous and a guitar lead to end the song.
The deep cavernous guttarl vocals sit perfectly over the mix, whereas the overall production is not something anyone will pick holes at. The image of the band is portrayed well through the production of the final output – a bit rough around the edges, giving that grime-y crusty feeling, while also ensuring the instruments are discernible.
I enjoyed “Noxious Emissions“. It’s short and hard-hitting. You can tell their influences off the bat. They do remind me of a crusty Undergang. But that said, there is an abudance of newly formed death metal outfits in the last 5-10 years whose styles are very similar and Voidhämmer might just get lost among all those names. That’s probably my only criticism whether the band has done enough in the EP to make it memorable. “Noxious Emissions” is a great start to get heads turning and with time and having more music under the belt, they’re bound to get the accolades. Voidhämmer are a good band with a good EP and they’re well worth your time!
Stay død!
Line up:
- Shane Bogdan – Drums
- Roger Herrera – Vocals, Bass
- Mike Royal – Vocals, Guitars
Tracklist
- Rotting in Excrement
- Cadaveric Bloat
- Phospherized
- Coffin Leakage