Don’t call it a comeback.

After dispatching a certain troublesome vocalist, South African Deathcore titans Vulvodynia did the only thing they know how: returned with Entabeni (Unique Leader Records), a rapturous, bites-your-head-off full-length that only furthers the outfit’s comfortable position atop the genre.

Guitarist Lwandile Prusent truly feels like a natural vocalist. Their scything screams are well-nourished; their authoritative, physically imposing shouts will put you in your place. As a whole, it’s a performance that should invigorate fans of the band who many have been turned off or soured by minor upheaval within the ranks.

Entabeni (which means “The Mountain” in the Isizulu language) emphatically continues Vulvodynia’s penchant for truly unhinged, unpredictable Deathcore stylings whilst also morphing guitars into a completely different entity entirely.

Exhibit A: “Mamlambo.” The stringwork featured quickly begins to sound and feel as if it were electronic and/or programmed. Not the way an artificial drum machine might sound, but in a way that truly seems like an alien or extraterrestrial creature stole the guitar and began playing however the fuck they wanted to. The sustained tomfoolery and finger aerobics must be an absolute bitch to play live.

Exhibit B: “Imbawula.” Decades after finger-tapping became a common technique, the performance here is tangibly fluid and slick. It’s like the section was recorded on a guitar which doesn’t actually have frets but flat buttons one works with ease, like if it were a gamepad. 

And exhibit C: “Isandlwana.” The tremolo creates sounds that are akin to a bouncy house inflating and deflating. 

Don’t think this record is all about the guitars, though. “Randlord” features a blistering, stampeding tempo early on. “Devil Tree” sees an effective aural background atmosphere. And “Adamaster” takes on a rock-em-sock-em energy. 

Additionally, there are guest appearances sprinkled throughout this record, but it’s almost a side note simply because of how monstrously tight and uncontrollable Entabeni feels from start to finish. 

To say the record is “heavy” is insulting. Vulvodynia don’t do heavy, they do “massive enough that it would exceed the maximum capacity for modern elevators.”

Buy the album here:
https://orcd.co/Entabeni

9 / 10
MATT COOK