Eight years after their formation, French death metallers, Venefixion, churn forth their debut album, A Sigh From Below. Coming on Iron Bonehead, this old school chug fest is a throwback to the early days of death - as it quickly emerged from the blistering speed of thrash. Like the second coming of Morbid Angel, this quintet may have taken a while to put out their first full length, but those looking for old school shred will be glad they waited. 

Built on seven songs and two intro/interludes, A Sigh From Below is a wonderful time capsule from 30 years ago, lovingly recorded with modern equipment. This added cleanliness of production allows the instruments to have the space they need, the room to let their true essence shine, and the tightness to keep their individuality. Guitar fueled and shredtastic, the tracks on display here are birthed in old school death metal revelry, but add a modern sensibility to the structure and arrangement. Adding a bit more complexity than the surface level sound suggests, Venefixion's double guitar attack keeps the tone and creativity oscillating and propels the album onward. Throaty vocals add much-needed context for the guitar work, and instantly bring the listener back to a time when finding new metal wasn't as easy as it is today. Adding to this level of known comfort is the drums. Hitting all the traditional cymbal patterns and tom fills, the drums on A Sigh From Below add the last layer of throwback familiarity that the listener needs to complete the journey. That's not to say that Venefixion is just an old school revival band. Their additions come in the form of differing complexities that challenge the listener's perception of the old school aesthetic. When thoughts predict the song will go one way, Venefixion moves it slightly askew and keeps it fresh. This is an engaging way to be original, pay tribute, and still keep the listener involved.

Although releasing EPs and demos, A Sigh From Below is Venefixions first full length and makes a nice splash. Old school death with some modern frills, this album follows the tried and true formula and will not disappoint those looking for the early 90's sound. Tight and well recorded, Venefixion shows that their care and attention is well regarded and they plan to be around for a long time.