VILE APPARATION - Malignity (Review)

Note: this was originally published as a guest review over at Peregrinator Reviews. Check it out here!

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Written by: The Administrator
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When you see enough people saying that a death metal album may very well be the death metal album of the year, it is honestly pretty easy to take them at their word. Indeed, perhaps moreso than any other genre, I fundamentally believe that death metal's sheer number of high quality albums is a statistical anomaly. There are, of course, some stinkers, but surely there must exist more low and middling quality albums to balance things out. But alas. A great many death metal albums are of a remarkably high quality.

​And so: I find myself once more bestowing the mantle of high quality death metal album upon a high quality death metal album. Malignity by Vile Apparition is undeniably a high quality death metal album. If you enjoy high quality death metal albums, this particular example may very well sit high on your list of high quality death metal albums released this year.

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The discerning reader may be asking: but wait, what elements qualify an album for the common yet still coveted distinction as a high quality death metal album? Well, discerning reader, there's the fucking riffs, for one. Malignity riffs very hard across its mighty breadth, with many of said riffs generating the kind of involuntary sneer that we death metal fans crave with a near-insatiable thirst. There's an urgency underpinning the heft of the riffage, thereby keeping things moving along at a clip that tickles the brain quite nicely. The bass presence on this album is of particular note–it frequently elevates the existing riff structure with both tangible heft and exciting flourish. While little here is overtly technical or progressive, Vile Apparition don't exactly spend much time in the Riff Doldrums. There is much headbangable material lurking within Malignity, and while many of the songs feel similar by benefit of their influence, nothing feels overwhelmingly repetitive. Like unto many other high quality death metal albums, Vile Apparition also makes effective use of a punchy snarling vocal delivery. Here, there are moments where the vocals almost seem to dip under the tumultuous surface of the instrumentation, allowing them almost a secondary or support role alongside the guitar. "The Essence of Malignancy" is a good example: that massive riff that rears its slobbering head is the clear star of the show.

​Despite the inherent same-ness of the style, there are more than several standout moments. Early highlight "Bloodletting" and Side B smasher "Castrated Gods" feel defined by a roaring surge--it seems like the tracks are anxious to get where they are going, and subsequently dig in the spurs. Standout track "Broken Minds" is similarly urgent, and employs a pinched central riff that plays well against the general churn. The aforementioned "The Essence of Malignity" isn't afraid to veer into chug territory, slowing things down for a couple of mighty beatdowns that serves to accentuate the ferocity of the album's overall landscape. There's a fun lil' bass lick that punctuates "Thriving on Disease," succeeding quite well at cutting through the noise. This track generally feels a little groovier, and stands out more and more on Side B the more I listen to the album.

Like many high quality death metal albums, Malignity contains a track designed to provide reprieve that will undoubtedly prove controversial. Some fans may prefer the groovy brutality uninterrupted, whereas I, for one, appreciate an occasional breather. Enter "Pulverised Dreams," which, despite the aggressive moniker, is a lovely break in the aggression. Flamenco-esque acoustic guitars weave and wend, and I find the track an effective use of runtime when it comes to reaffirming and recontextualizing the album's heaviest moments. Again, however, I can see how some might prefer a straightforward assault without the detour. An argument can always be made for the strength of an even shorter runtime, but at a brisk 34 minutes, I'm of the mind that Vile Apparation have already done a fantastic job in the self-editing department. This is a fast and punchy listen. Which is, incidentally, another marker of a high quality death metal album. In this context, brevity is a virtue.
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Some may argue that it's a mere accessory to the sonic composition, but I am firmly of the mind that a high quality death metal album must present a strong visual that reinforces the overall aesthetic. Here, the cover art, courtesy of Sutter Cane, seals the deal quite nicely. A crustacean-esque creature in the foreground, spindly fingers outstretched, inside a cavernous maw with a castle in the background? That’s just cool. 

​And lastly, a high quality death metal album should leave you in that special zone between exhausted and invigorated. The pummeling from all sides and angles is enough to leave the listener bruised and bloody, but there's a certain surge of energy associated with the violence. The ideal response to the initial completion of such a death metal album is a wiping of viscera, a cracking of knuckles, and a glorious swandive back into the fray. Repeat listens are encouraged.

In sum, Vile Apparation’s Malignity is a high quality death metal album with this release. While I'm personally considering the jury to be out in regards to the best of the year, Malignity certainly enjoys a space in that amorphous upper echelon. As such, I recommend that any fans of high quality death metal give this one a well-deserved listen.

Vile Apparition – Malignity was released Oct. 10th, 2025 via Me Saco Un Ojo / Dark Descent. Find it here!​

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Vile Apparition can be found on Facebook and Bandcamp
Cover art by Sutter Cane