Vermithor - Bloodsport

Vermithor is a good example of the healthy state of Finnish death metal in the 2020s. Formed in 2024, the band has wasted no time. Shortly after forming, the four-piece recorded the Wasteland Throne EP (2025) at the end of that same year. The lineup then shrank to a trio, which put together a second EP towards the end of 2025, released in spring 2026. By summer, the band had once again grown into a four-piece.

Bloodsport, released in 2026, is technically a six-track EP featuring a cover of Madball’s “Set It Off”. In practice, the CD also includes the previous EP, giving the silver disc roughly a full album’s worth of material.

Stylistically, both releases deal in ’90s-style American death metal. Among the bigger names, the newer material in particular brings Cannibal Corpse to mind. On a more general level, Vermithor can simply be described as death metal without bothering to distinguish between country or scene.

There has been some development as well, as Bloodsport sounds better than Wasteland Throne. The two releases are nevertheless similar enough to sit comfortably under the same cover without creating any major contrast.

With its improved punch, Vermithor appears to be ready to make a proper album. The death metal ranges from mid-tempo pounding to faster assaults and doesn’t particularly stand out from the crowd, but it gets the job done well. The growled vocals are strong and traditional. The guitars also feature solos, which is always a reliable choice with this kind of material.

Vermithor has also proven to be a solid live band, so I recommend checking them out both on stage and on record.

Track list:
1. Sickening Shrapnel Surgery
2. Abominable Intelligence
3. Banquet of Bastards
4. Imperial Bloodsport
5. Final Raid
6. Set It Off (Madball cover)
7. Apocalypse Dawn (Intro)
8. Wasteland Throne
9. Cadaverous Uprising
10. Veil of Control
11. The Last Line of Defense

Links:
https://vermithor.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/vermithorhcdm/
https://www.instagram.com/vermithorhcdm
https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Vermithor/3540557526