Flying the Norwegian flag for death metal Blood Red Throne have doggedly survived various genre insurgents since their formation and release of their debut album at the turn of the new millennium. Often overlooked even though the band has had various high profile musicians it is safe to say that this current line-up is the most stable.
In today’s fickle extreme metal market and especially death metal the trait of not changing your approach is berated by some quarters wanting a band to fit the style they like currently but Blood Red Throne has unreservedly retained the hallmarks of authentic guttural death metal that appeared in the mid to late 80s which they do brilliantly and have continued to do so over their last seven albums. As you’d expect bands always state that their latest album is the best they’ve done and with this eighth full length the band can wholeheartedly state that this certainly is their best album yet. If you’re expecting fretboard gymnastics, progressive dilution or hints of black, doom or whatever sub-genre you care to name then steer clear as this is death metal warmongery at its finest that opens with “Revocation Of Humankind”. The bands trademark double kick rhythmic pulsation is matched by the extremely catchy riffs. Yes, it does sound like Cannibal Corpse, most guttural death metal bands do but that shouldn’t taint the judgement of whether an album is any good or not!
Continuing with “Proselyte Virus” the dense pounding riffs are cemented to pulverising bass and drums but still possessing the odd inkling of subtler machinations via the slower opaquely dense breaks. “Homicidal Ecstasy” has a grisly slithering riff and slower pace that has Cannibal Corpse stamped into similar to the “Gallery Of Suicide” or “Gore Obsessed” eras. Vocally this trawls the infrasonic rumbling frequencies that whales could enjoy maintaining a deep drawling bellow throughout. Beastly and possessing a gnarly gritty and melodic approach the double kick is completely flattening on the title track sounding genuine without any clicky nonsense or sounding like the drums are being hit by a cotton wool ball.
“Legacy Of Greed” firmly cranks up the pace but still retaining a cranium drilling riff that makes this band one of my favourites in death metal. Reading through the track list the double take I did when I read “Leather Rebel” had me instantly curious as to how the Judas Priest tune would fare under the not so subtle sledgehammering that BRT would give it. I’m not keen on heavy metal songs being overhauled via the death metal sonic cement mixer and in fairness the traits of the original are left intact for the riff but the thundering drums make the tune listen like Amon Amarth for some reason strangely.
Likely to be criticised for being too close to Cannibal Corpse for me that is its selling point as Blood Red Throne play death metal, they do it fiercely and show no signs of veering away from the genres parameters making this 45 minutes of head crushing deathliness.
(8.5/10 Martin Harris)
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