Artist: Tormentador / Goat Semen
Country: Brazil / Peru
Label: Nuclear War Now! Productions
Formats: Split LP
Year: 2025
A split LP with one of Brazil’s heaviest and Peru’s foulest. This is one of those records where you don’t really need to have heard a single note to instantly conclude that this is a Black/Death Metal headbangers’ paradise. Although Tormentador hasn’t been around as long as Goat Semen and has a significantly less impressive discography under its belt, but both bands have worked hard and earned enough recognition to know that we’re going to be thoroughly mangled for a good half hour. Lovely!
First up is Tormentador. After their splendid and mind bogglingly violent ‘Morte Negra’ EP from 2022 and the follow-up split 7” EP with Sex Messiah (2024) it was about time the band came up with some new material. It might have taken a bit, but hell, Tormentador’s contribution to this split LP is heavier and even more brutal than their debut recording. As if early Krisiun and Sarcófago had a head-on collision with Proclamation and Angelcorpse. This is not by far original, but you can leave it to the Brazilians to come up with a perfect blend of Black Metal and Death Metal. The both sharp and venomous riffs go impressively well with the thunderous bass and drums, together resulting in a an absolute maelstrom of wild and unbridled aggression. A phat as fuck production and beastly vocals are the icing to the cake. Definitely a must have/listen for anyone who enjoys revelling in the beauty of ugliness of Extreme Metal.
Goat Semen had only been mildly active in the past few years, but since the release of the amazing ‘Fuck Christ’ 12” EP in 2024, the band has been on a roll. They recently offered no less than three split releases: two split 7” EP’s (with Impurity and Bestial Rites) and this split 12” EP with Tormentador. But whether they put out a lot or just a little, Goat Semen will never be a band of surprises. The material that the Peruvians contributed on ‘Altares Em Chamas’ is mostly in line with ‘Fuck Christ’, but honestly, the differences between the band’s material throughout their career are minimal at best. These five new tracks are seamlessly aligned with what we’ve come to expect from Goat Semen: wild and abrasive Black Metal Of Death. A breakneck pace, chaotic compositions and Erick Neyra’s characteristic rabid vocals, this is how we like Goat Semen best. On top of that, this recording, quite a bit like ‘Fuck Christ’ has a true “live” feeling; that certainly benefits the ferocious compositions and makes this yet another mandatory addition to the ever-growing Goat Semen discography/legacy.
