Vacuous

Vacuous are a death metal band from London, United Kingdom, active since 2020. The group includes Damiano Stefano Di Cerbo, Ezra Harkin, Max Southall, Zak Mullard, Michael Brodsky and Joseph Chen.

Style and formation

Formed in early 2020, Vacuous build their sound around death metal, with influences drawn from old school death metal, death/doom, punk, D-beat, grindcore and powerviolence. Their music is described through a mix of aggressive speed and oppressive atmosphere, with references to bands such as Autopsy and Incantation in the foundations of their style.

Releases

The band first records a very lo-fi demo before issuing the Katabasis EP in November 2020 through FHED. That release brings them wider attention and places them in Cvlt Nation’s top 10 death metal releases of the year.

In 2022 they release their debut full-length album, Dreams of Dysphoria, on Me Saco Un Ojo Records, Dark Descent Records and FHED. The album expands their sound into a darker and more dissonant form of death metal, with lyrics centred on mental health, grief and other lived experiences.

Live activity and reception

After the easing of COVID-related restrictions, Vacuous expand to a five-piece line-up and begin playing a series of gigs around the UK. Their debut album receives strong attention and is also included in Time Out Magazine’s best albums of 2022 list.