The band released their first output in 2009, “From Deathbeds We'll Rise." The EP starts with an intro that mixes piano with spoken word and whispering voices, creating some kind of weird atmosphere – and it leads the listeners in the wrong direction: Vinegar Hill is dedicated to melodic death metal, with deep, hateful and angry growls that sometimes seem to explode, and additional clean male voice. Christian Steiner is a very gifted growler/shouter and dominates on “From Deathbeds We'll Rise” in an impressive way. May the clean vocals not always be 100% flawless, the songs wouldn’t be the same without them, they are catchy, emotional and bring additional variety to the songs.

Vinegar Hill is influenced by earlier Swedish metal, but not copying it. In fact, the band successfully avoid the danger of becoming a copycat and managed to integrate several metal styles to find their own, individual way. Vinegar Hill create an intense death-metal feeling with calmer interludes, melodic riffs and catchy refrains, but at a few moments the bridges and the contours could have been worked out sharper. Songs like “Doominion” and “Hope Dies Last” however show how much skill and potential range within these guys: So let it out!

“From Deathbeds We'll Rise” is an angry run through the varied Vinegar Hill–landscapes of death metal, whipped along by hunting guitars, melodic riffs, with dark growls behind you and slower, clean parts that betray you to believe to be safe. You are not. The machine gun-like guitars and the growls of Christian Steiner get you.

You can feel and hear the fun these guys had when recording the EP and there is no doubt that this band has the potential to make their way to the big stages. Oh, and by the way: Gösser rules.

written by Blake

Playing time: 26:50