Review: Vulture God ‘No Easy Answer’ EP
In my long journey to end up as the old dog of The Sleeping Shaman writing staff, one thing has remained true and that is my love of underground British metal bands. This isn’t born from any jingoistic cause of the moment, but from the simple fact that I live here.
Going to gigs has been my passion since I attended Donington ’95, back when I had hair and youthful optimism, which was fuelled further by smaller club gigs around the UK.
Starting with local support acts, finding a community of people who loved music as much as I do, often compromising or sacrificing much to play original compositions with a conviction and a passion that was capable of sparking inspiration.
Over the years, I have seen many a band come and go in the harsh realities of the industry, some succeeded or moved on to other ventures, but through that shared devotion, I have made countless friends and seen some incredible music. It’s why I do this, my attempt to give back to a scene that has given me so much, which brings me to Bristol’s Vulture God.
Having not seen Oxford rockers Desert Storm since their nascent run supporting Virginia’s finest instrumental stoner band Karma To Burn (gone but never forgotten Will) at the long defunct Bretonside Bus Stationin Plymouth back in 2010, I finally got the chance to connect with the Cole brothers and co at the beginning of the year at The Gryphon in Bristol.
One of the things that stood out for me at that gig was the opening act – the newly rebranded Vulture God, who definitely made an impression, proving their technical skills and igniting a mosh pit in the tiny 50 person capacity room. It was no surprise that they would go on to be semi-finalists in this year’s Bristol leg of Bloodstock’s Metal To The Mass competition, worthy of the competition, but maybe a little too early in their existence to top out their category.
Having vowed to keep an eye on them, it was fantastic to get the chance to hear their self-released EP that they were yet to record back in February. Roll on to December 2025, and the four tracks that make up No Easy Answer are out now, and the release is immediately eye-catching thanks to the stunning artwork from Putra Satria Nugrah. In this day and age, where so much revolves around merch for bands to try and raise finances, having great visuals on a t-shirt is an absolute must, so the EP cover and single artwork for Safe Haven are striking and on point.
But what about the music? Frankly, Vulture God do their level best to cram a ridiculous amount into a short fifteen minutes.
The building hum of opening instrumental Murmur is the kind of imperious intro that has adorned thrash/death metal albums since the genre was perfected and sets up a grandiose feel for what is to come. Short and sweet, the evil Slayer-like notes flex and coil like snakes whilst Thomas Noakes thumps the kit like the heralding of war drums…
a muscular pounding awash with lush leads, thundering drums, and feral snarls…
The technical explosion that ignites One Size Fits All starts the EP off properly. With intricate ascending notes and a cacophony of vocals led by rhythm guitarist Milo Clack, backed by Ben Fisher (lead guitar), Ben Reygate (bass) and Ben Price (keyboards), that babble like they are Legion. Through chunky, groaning riffs, Clack barks and shouts whilst the lead runs dance with complex, dexterously executed panache.
As the track evolves, there are moments of mid-paced stomping muscle, punctuated by moments of technical ambition, Price adding light and shade with atmospherics and sweeping soundscapes during the melodic breakdown. There is so much going on here, but I have to tip my hat to the maturity on display with the hoarse screams and the pyrotechnic soloing.
The single Safe Haven, a track they dedicated to Desert Storm back in February, is as violent as it is short. With nods to the band’s influences, such as Gojira and Mastodon. Walking a tightrope between epic, crushing blackened metal and smash-mouth tech death. The melodic opening gives way to a muscular pounding awash with lush leads, thundering drums, and feral snarls before a beautiful twin harmony run at the climax.
The title track, No Easy Answer, gets straight to the business of inspiring furious headbanging, the heavy chugs colliding with frantic double bass and squealing. Clack delivers a rasping vocal that strains with gruffness and raw passion that almost feels like a hardcore shout-along. The heavier-than-thou breakdown drops a huge groove before the epic finish. The band closes out the EP by taking a victory lap through all the tricks they have in their arsenal as a reminder that they have plenty left in the tank.
It’s easy to be cynical these days and overwhelmed by the sheer value of music that gets thrown about in disposable fashion. A band starting out can be dismissed or overlooked. However, having seen them live, spoken to them, and felt their enthusiasm and hunger, it takes me back. It reminds me that I’m not just here churning articles for some inflated sense of self-importance. I hope I am helping influence people to take a chance on musicians who can have a positive effect through their music.
No Easy Answer is a well-executed, professional and serious debut. Yes, it is a little raw, and as their confidence grows, they will strike more of their own identity, which is the point.
The band headline their first ever show for their EP launch party at The Croft in Bristol on January 10th. Get a long if you are in the area, I’ll be there to see what difference a ton of gigs and a year makes. Should be quite the evening.
Label: Independent
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Mark Hunt-Bryden
