Chaos Inception – Vengeance Evangel (Review)

This is the third album from US death metallers Chaos Inception.

Wow, I did not see this coming. 2012’s The Abrogation stood out with its quality, and I’ve periodically wondered over the years if we’d ever see another from Chaos Inception. I had long assumed not, but here it is – unheralded, and unexpected. Can Chaos Inception stand up to scrutiny in 2025?

A resounding yes.

Chaos Inception return with Vengeance Evangel, a 41-minute beast of a record. Time has passed though, and not everything is the same. The lineup has changed; now a duo, the drummer of The Abrogation is providing vocals. So who is on drums, you might reasonably ask? The answer is the formidable Kevin Paradis – of bands such as Aronious, Construct of Lethe, Mithridatic, ex-Benighted, and about a million guest slots on different albums, such as Vengeance Evangel.

This is pure death metal carnage. Its power is direct and brutal, yet also requires time for its lethal hooks to truly embed themselves deep in your smashed skull. Vengeance Evangel may be barbaric and harsh, but it’s not without finesse or skill. Quite the opposite in fact; the songwriting is involved and intricate, allowing a shape and form to emerge from the frenzied bedlam, resulting in songs that require repeated visits to really get to grips with.

Chaos Inception play a timeless form of classic death metal that’s fast and aggressive. It’s packed with murderous riffs and confident delivery. The solos are blistering, (and frequently non-standard), and the drums punishing. What melody there is lacerates with its intensity, and the technical flourishes only exist to make the impact of the songs felt all the harder. It may sound strange, but there are even some classic heavy metal influences that can be heard here and there.

The production is warm and dynamic, allowing the music to breathe, yet also fill every space with brutality. There is no filler, no crappy intros or pointless interludes; Vengeance Evangel is honed to a fine killing point, and thrust home with skill and strength.

This is the sound of expertly channelled chaos and mayhem. It’s a death metal expression of violence and destruction. Precise, merciless, furious. I often bemoan the lack of really good death metal of this sort, so I’m over the moon with Vengeance Evangel.

If you favour bands such as Hate Eternal, Krisiun, Immolation, and Morbid Angel, this is very much for you. Having said that, I deem this essential listening for any death metal fan, really.