For once it’s a big week for thrash. Strap in, cause speed limits are about to be completely ignored.
Aeon Of Awareness – The Embracing Light Of Rarohenga
Genre: Melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
A German melodic death metal band that for some reason have found it appropriate to theme their music around Maori mythology. Aside from the apparent lack of cultural authenticity, it is a purely superficial treatment – only extending to the lyrics and song titles (which are all performed in English and German), as there is nothing about the music that brings to mind traditional Maori elements. It’s rhythmic, crunchy, and a bit stale Swedish-styled melodeath, nothing more.
Ckraft – Uncommon Grounds
Genre: Experimental metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
A jazzy, experimental metal project that’s all instrumental, and clearly honed in on something their can call entirely their own. Bendy, Gojira-like metal riffs are set to medieval music-styled melodies, progressive odd rhythms, and all of it topped with a flamboyant sax. It’s at its best when not so rhythmically strict and stuck in place.
Destabilizer – Monopoly on Violence
Genre: Thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
How about some Danish old school-styled thrash? The Danes know well how not to take things too seriously and prioritize fun, cutting right to the core of what makes something enjoyable. That’s exactly what this band does, and with obvious enthusiasm. It’s agile, semi aggressive, and groove-seeking, although can get a tad stale in some of the the mid-tempo sections.
Deus Sabaoth – Cycle Of Death
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Solemn black metal that sounds like it should be performed for a congregation of the damned. There is a strong presence of melancholy doom, which adds a touch of theatre to the flavor, although the raspy vocals do a good job of keeping things harsh and direct.
Grave Digger – Bone Collector
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Veteran German heavy metallers Grave Digger offers up a grim, thrash-leaning record, going for aggressive-ish groove over melody. It’s still very much old school-styled, uncomplicated and catchy stuff that’s not reinvented in any way.
Häxkapell – Om Jordens Blod Och Grepp
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5
Häxkapell is a relatively fresh Swedish black metal band that’s now on its second full-length release, and yes, as per the norm for promising, up-and-coming black metal outfits these days, it’s a one-man project. While not fully committed to a distinctly melodic or atmospheric sound, there are strong folk elements, foremost of which are deep, warm chants and the use of violin as an alternative to the guitar tremolo, as well as rousing, crowd-moving rhythms. The intensity sometimes dips into a mid-tempo doom-like realm, but for the most part remains harsh and bitter, if not explicitly aggressive. It’s an exceptionally well-balanced sound that melds the best aspects of pagan black metal, not unlike early Enslaved.
Highlights: “Metamorfos” and “Satan’s rötter”
Hazzerd – The 3rd Dimension
Genre: Thrash metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5
Thrash! Unfiltered, unmodified, unpretentious, on-point thrash that takes its mission just the perfect degree seriously. This is a band that wants to achieve something more with its music than just getting heads banging. There’s social commentary in the lyrics, and real effort has gone into equipping each song with character, utilizing distinct rhythms, impressive technicality and memorable guitar licks and melody lines. Not markedly old school nor modern, it perfectly blends speed, groove, sharp precision and impatient attitude into a pure, timeless thrash extravaganza.
Highlight: “Interdimension” and “Parasitic”.
Hesperia – Fra Li Monti Sibillini
Genre: Atmospheric black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
A huge undertaking of medieval/pagan atmospheric black metal where ambience and traditional, acoustic instruments dominate the soundscape, added snarled, near-whispered lyrics for a touch of dark mysticism. Then, in chunks, it breaks out in pure, cold, sinister-toned black metal. The two parts to the experience fit well enough together, although the transitions could have been more elegantly wrought.
Necrodeath – Arimortis
Genre: Thrash/black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Underground Italian blackened thrash outfit Necrodeath are apparently ready to call it a career with this 14th full-length. It’s sinister, Slayer-meets-Venom-like stuff, mostly mid-to-semi-high tempo and hostile. All of it does sound a bit similar, but there are lots of cool highlights if you dig the style.
Onirophagus – Revelations from the Void
Genre: Death/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
This is a band that’s clearly intent on getting the best out of both the metal subgenres that they’re utilizing for their sound. While you certainly get extended sections of the typical death/doom deflated, dry-gurgled vocals on top of riffs that are like cave systems collapsing in slow motion, there’s actual variation in the vocal style (including some outraged shouting that reminded me of Nergal in Behemoth) and parts that go all-out in one direction or the other. The doom side is saturated with bitter melody, and the death metal side roars in with thundering force like a second personality that simply won’t accept whatever injustice has been done without venting the totality of its pent up rage. There are sections throughout that overstay their welcome slightly, but for the most part this is a captivating listen.
Highlight: “Landsickness”
Putrid Defecation – Tales from the Toilet
Genre: Brutal death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Finnish brutal slamming nonsense about graphic, toilet-related disasters, and it’s a real good time. These are riffs and beats that actually lean into a groove and you’re mercifully spared the relentless ping-snare that usually accompanies this stuff.
Sarcator – Swarming Angels & Flies
Genre: Thrash/black metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5
Sometimes you get the sense that a metal subgenre was created awaiting the day when a band comes along and discovers a way to maximize its inherent potential. I certainly get that sense with Sarcator and blackened thrash metal. The sheer anger radiating from “Swarming Angels & Flies” is like a pair of barbed fists that grab you by your battle vest and shake you mercilessly until you’re left standing in tattered rags. This is not your typical “fun” blackened thrash album. It’s a bloodthirsty, mean, calculating and deft-handed bastard that’s on a mission to sever heads and write blasphemous passages with the blood. The fact that this is only the third full-length from a very young band spells great things for their future.
Highlights: “Where the Void Begins” and “Comet of End Times”
Thy Kingdom Will Burn – The Loss And Redemption
Genre: Melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Metalcore-strength melodeath from Finland. It has an epic, almost doom like quality that doesn’t shine through very clearly but brings to mind Insomnium.
Tumenggung – Back On The Streets
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
An Indonesian heavy metal band that’s playing it reeeal old school. Galloping riffs, peppy rhythms and high-pitched vocals are all in place. Production wise it’s perhaps overly compressed, but it’s even, consistent and charming.
As always, if you think I’m completely off on an observation, unfairly dissed your favorite band, or need to give an album another shot, why not pop a comment down below?
The Metal Dispatch 