Review
Full Of Hell
Amber Mote in the Black Vault

Full of Hell remain successful in orbiting the broad domain of hardcore punk without becoming victims of convention or straying from ethic. With the release of Amber Mote in the Black Vault via John Hoffman’s (Weekend Nachos) Bad Teeth Recordings, “stagnation” simply does not appear to be a part of the Maryland/Pennsylvania outfit’s vocabulary. The group grows more and more interesting as a creative unit while they continue to produce a unique blend of extreme music rooted in hardcore punk, black metal, grindcore, powerviolence, and death metal.

Comprised of four tracks clocking in under six minutes total, Amber Mote in the Black Vault is a compressed composition with the swift span of the album mirroring its pace. The EP’s opener, titled “Halogen Bulb,” sets the tone of the subsequent tracks: a frantic fusion of death metal interwoven with strands of black metal tonality. “Amber Mote” sustains the previous song's amalgamation with high-pitched screams sparring off with guttural bellowing over blast beats before the tempo is subdued as the album reaches its midpoint. “Barb and Sap” exhibits the most characteristics of grind to be found on the record and is only complimented by Full of Hell’s patented pension for effects-laden noise and a very choice Gummo snippet. Though it is fair to say the album is less an exercise in noise than most of the band’s previous efforts. The final track is an unexpected treat: a faithful (albeit with the exception of Walker’s vocal style) cover of the Melvins song “Oven” from their 1989 release OZMA.

The concise Amber Mote in the Black Vault is a very fun listen that doesn’t require much of your surely precious time. The record proves that Full of Hell’s development is one of the most compelling trajectories under the umbrella of abrasive music as they exhibit proficiency in various styles to make their own unique concoction. The growth displayed on Amber Mote in the Black Vault makes their upcoming release with Portland’s The Body that much more anticipated. I’m excited to see this band continue to solidify their rightful place in the annals of extreme music history.