Remember when life was simple? Remember when heavy metal was just, well, heavy metal? No internet but we had tape trading, Shades Records, Mega-Metal Kerrang, Sounds, bullet belts and pints of snakebite on a Friday night down Kings Nightclub in Ilford. Everyone was united in a brotherhood of denim, leather & studs. No churches getting burned or band-mates getting a bit stabby with each other. Life was good.
Then, a few years later, for some reason everything had to be pigeon holed into different genres and all these different ‘scenes’ emerged. Brutal this, Tech that and what the fuck is a ‘post metal band’ supposed to be? Do they ride bikes and give away free stamps? Seriously, I have no clue.
Which is why I fucking love Satan’s Wrath.
Their debut last year was a totally satisfying breath of retro hell-noise which hit the spot like nothing else. Everyone I know who heard it, loved it and it was well up there in my top ten of 2012.
So it’s good to hear they haven’t messed with the winning formula for this year’s follow up ‘Aeons Of Satan’s Reign’.
The band is the (Roesmary’s) baby of former Electric Wizard bass player, Tas Danazoglou who played bass, drums and sung on their debut with guitar supplied by former Scar Of The Sun main man, Stamos K. This time around the band has expanded and features Nathan Perrier (Labrat) on drums, Costa on bass and V on 2nd guitar.
The album starts with an atmospheric Gregorian intro then we’re off blasting into the brilliant ‘Only Satan Is Lord’ – this song has a very ‘Show No Mercy’ era Slayer vibe.
Track 2 is the super catchy & hook laden ‘Die White Witch Die’ – full of dual guitar melodies and a chorus that’s sure to get fists pumping and horns flying if these guys can put on a live show soon.
The old school 80’s influences abound from the Possessed sounding ‘Ecstasies Of Sorcery’ but it’s Iron Maiden’s influence that is felt the strongest especially on songs like the epic 8 minute plus title track – all galloping bass and twin guitar attack. The musicianship on display, particularly the guitar work is first rate (especially on the thrashing ‘All Of Us Witches’) and and Tas’s vocals growl fittingly over the top sounding suitably evil. Lyrically it’s all about the Great Horned One with a dash of necromancy and witch burning for good measure.
While this record and indeed the debut is not super complex, progressive or mould breaking it does stand head and shoulders above most of the other ‘retro’ metal acts out there.
Are the guys serious? Who knows, probably not but I for one am loving Satan’s Wrath for exactly what they are – a quality Heavy Metal band that know exactly what they are doing and remind me of happier, simpler times and of what got me into this music in the first place.
(9/10 Mark Eve)
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