GALLOWER - Vengeance & Wrath (Review)

Written by: Blackie Skulless

A few years ago, the Polish blackened speed metallers Gallower caught my attention with their short EP entitled Eastern Witchcraft. While it was nothing bad, it wasn’t impressive enough for me to work backwards and look towards their first full-length, feeling somewhat underwhelming. This year, the same label brought a follow-up to both, changing my entire perception. You might say they’re back for a vengeance due to my initial reaction, considering the aptly titled Vengeance & Wrath.

One should note, Gallower is still rather familiar in their style and execution, but this time around feels far more complete as an idea, with an emphasis on the metal end of things. Punkier attitudes are now traded for focused leads that don’t let go of the grit but absolutely step up their game in terms of hooks. Moreover, emphasis on witchcraft and spookiness is let up a bit, allowing room for some looks at historical and mythical tints that definitely impacted and matched the sound. Thus, there’s far less in the blackened overlays that came before, maintaining a really gruff presence, especially in the vocals, but ultimately falling out of that camp save for the occasional blast-beat frenzy. It was already faint on former releases as is, and the emphasis on a touch more melody brought things to a steadier apex.

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That’s all well and good, but what sells me more than the structure is the sharp leads and bouncy rhythms. A favorite might be “Bubonic Breath,” working in explosive chugs into the chorus beautifully, while crafting itself around speed metal rhythms and a vibrant bass presence. “Relentless Retaliation” utilizes furious riffs with boisterous vocals atop the chops, drawn with an even meaner grit in the bridge, which is channeled into a swifter blow on “The Dead Despise The Living.” There’s even some doom layers caked onto the likes of “March Of The Carmine Cloaks,” adding a dash of epic flavors reflecting an actual march, and the title track utilizes this too.
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I may have been unsure about this band at first, but it must be because of when I discovered them. Vengeance & Wrath is an absolute fumer of a record, taking the very foundation that piqued my interest and correcting every issue I had with it. Evolution is an important part of a band’s development, and I’ll absolutely be going back to the first record for further context now that this forty-three minute experience was void of any fill. Fans of heavy music kept (mostly) out of extreme territory but firmly in aggressive territory should give this their attention.

Gallower - Vengeance & Wrath was released March 28, 2025 via Dying Victims Productions. Find it here!

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Gallower can be found at Bandcamp and Instagram
Cover art by Kris Verwimp