Renowned for high quality albums such as 2012’s ‘The Arts of Destruction’ – arguably their best yet – Desaster are a metal institution. Cementing their reputation as such is their feral live performance. Boasting the kind of raw, borderline out-of-control speed that Slayer appeared to exhibit in their ’80s heyday, these Germans give 110% every time. Be it London or a village in Luxembourg (at a place which I think was called Club Mondo Bizarre) they have kicked my arse and crippled my neck consistently. In addition, living around their neck of the woods, it’s worth mentioning that I’ve seen the band’s members blending in the crowd at a few gigs like the modest, undying metal fans that they are. ‘The Oath of an Iron Ritual’ is the eighth commandment from these metallic masters.
Once the introductory clanks and strobes of sound have passed, ‘Proclamation in Shadows’ begins just as atmospherically. Riffs, bass and drums build before we are propelled into the type of double bass driven territory so indicative of these black/thrash legends. It’s not the quickest Desaster but a blood boiling morass of riff-heavy Satanic darkness which, as a result, finds time to exhibit another of the band’s hallmarks in a striking melancholic diversion. One of the album’s strengths, which establishes itself from the start, is the emphasis on Odin’s bass within the mix as it rises powerfully up to great effect every now and again. ‘End of Tyranny’ reinforces this notion as wild thrash and black metal elements compete mercilessly side by side. Upping the ante on this raging storm however is ‘The Cleric’s Arcanum’, which enters the fray with a tolling church bell and develops into the kind of assault to make God cower for salvation within the kitchen cupboards of Heaven.
Aaaaarrrrrrggggghhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
In contrast, and something which Desaster executes perfectly on this album, are longer tracks such as ‘Haunting Siren’. Combining the most majestic riff pattern with hammering bursts of thrash and shifting beyond its mid-pace flow whenever the time is right, it’s a mighty track. Likewise, ‘The Denial’ makes a huge impression. Opening with a sparse drum beat – perhaps thanks to Tormentor’s time in Asphyx? – the track combines bloody smears of melody with rueful doom to create a wholly Teutonic soundscape of mystery and redemption for its six minute duration. But punctuating these mammoth propositions are more typically raging Desaster compositions. ‘Damno Ad Bestias’ gets the metalized blood hurtling through your veins from that opening riff alone and ultimately makes you want to punch holes through walls (whether you can or not), while ‘Conquer & Contaminate’ is another example of head-banging fury albeit the least compelling one on the disc.
When it comes to the title track there’s an initial sense of deja-vu about the main riff although any reservations are soon put in the shade by a punkier strand to the perverted hymn. While given the name it may have been natural to expect something more epic from the title track, the parting shot of ‘At the Eclipse of Blades’ certainly will not leave you disappointed. Seven-and-a-half minutes long, the closer is initially sparse and rueful in the vein of ‘The Denial’ but once it gets its groove on there are few better words to describe the experience than powerful and sublime. In fact the whole thing is simply awesome, bleeding passion and sheer metallic lust throughout.
Overall, my one minor criticism of the album is that at 48 minutes it is possibly a bit lengthy. With one less track – for me ‘Conquer & Contaminate’ – it would have been a more complete, concise statement and even bordering on top marks. Specifically, those evocative yet weighty excursions into darkness such as ‘Haunting Sirens’, ‘The Denial’ and ‘At the Eclipse of Blades’ cut deep into the metal consciousness. As with a few of their previous albums, ‘The Oath of an Iron Ritual’ has proven to be a grower but one which ultimately takes on giant proportions.
For the likes of myself, these Beer Drinkers and Hellbangers have failed to put a foot wrong in their twenty-eight year existence, and this latest effort defiantly continues the tradition.
(8.5/10 Jamie)
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