Hidden Gems & Guilty Pleasures: Viogression (USA)

Viogression 1991

Viogression (Death Metal // USA)

Viogression is a death metal band hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Forged in the underground and shaped by an uncompromising metaphysical focus, Viogression delivers disciplined brutality and immersive, shadowed depth. After decades, they remain an unyielding force.

Viogression’s debut »Expound And Exhort« is one of the great early 90’s death metal albums but it never got any bigger attention. This was because the band signed to one of the most notorious rip-off labels at the time, and this wasn’t the only bad thing that happened. Viogression’s American label folded during the first week of the band’s tour with Death, a tour was meant to promote »Expound And Exhort«, and to add insult to injury, their label could not pay for the Euro leg of said tour and so the band had to withdraw. This resulted in very little attention to their debut which just happens to be a death metal masterpiece.

»Expound And Exhort« is an album full of great death metal that brings Obituary and earlier Death to mind. Vocalist Brian DeNeffe is in league with John Tardy, but occasionally he uses a vicious screamy style of singing. Mostly the music varies between mid-tempo and slow ’n doomy but there are also some sudden blastbeats. This little factor sets Viogression apart from for example Obituary because they never used blastbeats. The production is good and surprisingly heavy, which is a great thing since some of the more underground death metal albums have quite a weak production (and it is fully remastered and restored for Hammerheart Records re-issue). Another thing that sets Viogression apart is the use of weird effects and ambient parts in the songs. Viogression definitely gets the job done in the quality department, exuding a level of enthusiasm and intensity that is difficult to miss.

»Expound And Exhort« is one of those albums that doesn’t really get old, it keeps moving and changing things up, and does not fall shy of matching what was coming out of the bigger names in the early 90’s. To sum it all up, »Expound And Exhort« is essential for all fans of early 90’s death metal. Despite being heavily Obituary influenced it’s by no means a clone. They don’t make ‘em like this anymore.

In March 2020, Hammerheart Records re-issued Viogression’s »Expound And Exhort« on LP, 2-CD in a slipcase and MC. It is a highly regarded album, critically acclaimed and sought after by many fans collecting old school death metal.

Viogression 2025

Formed in 1988, Viogression established its presence in the metal underground with a series of demos, setting the stage for their critically acclaimed debut, »Expound And Exhort« (1991, Tombstone Records). This landmark release earned widespread praise and secured the band a world tour alongside luminaries Death and Pestilence. Their second album, »Passage« (1994, Progressive Records), released incomplete, led to a nine-year hiatus. Reuniting in 2003, Viogression began writing new material, culminating in, »A Pure Formality« (2014, Temple Of Darkness Records), which ignited the band’s resurgence and captivating live performances.

Defying 2020’s global turmoil, they delivered »3rd Stage Of Decay«, (2022, Satanath Records and Moribund Records). In 2024, Viogression began the recording process for their fourth album, »Thaumaturgic Veil«, released July 11, 2025. »Thaumaturgic Veil« delivers a transformative new chapter in their distinguished legacy. Reviews of Viogression’s »Thaumaturgic Veil« praise the album for blending brutal old-school death metal with creative, metaphysical themes. They describe the record as a cerebral, complex, and forward-thinking experience that showcases the band’s instrumental proficiency and honors the genre’s legacy while pushing its boundaries.

Discography:
• »Perception Blur« Demo (Edge Entertainment, 1990)
• »Execution« Demo (1990)
• »Devils« Demo (1990)
• »Expound And Exhort« LP (Tombstone Records, 1991)
• »Passage« LP (Tombstone Records, 1992)
• »A Pure Formality« EP (2014)
• »Execution« Single (Thrashing Corpse Records, 2020)
• »Perception Blur« Compilation (Horror Pain Gore Death Productions, 2020)
• »3rd Stage Of Decay« LP (Satanath Records, 2022)
• »Thaumaturgic Veil« LP (2025)

Viogression is:
Brian DeNeffe – Vocals
Lief Larson – Guitar
Johnathon Ibarra – Guitar
Jason Hellman – Bass
Elijah White – Drums

FFO: Obituary, Asphyx, Death, Morgoth, Cianide, Pestilence, Winter, Autopsy, Accidental Suicide, Morta Skuld, Skeletal Remains

Links:
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Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well