This debut effort by the French death metallers first materialised towards the latter half of 2018 as an independent release but having signed to Great Dane it has got a second push to garner more attention which it should rightly obtain. Like many French acts in the extreme metal scene this bunch do not follow the rules laid out in traditional death metal annals but instead inject their songs with quirky riffs and hooks that embellish all their songs with an aura of inherent catchiness. Added to that the band also inserts an occasional thrash dominance creating a vibrant and violent listen.
Opening the album is “Demons” where that quirkiness is immediately apparent as the riff break is very cool and leads into a deathrash poise. The copious tempo shifts add massive amounts of texture but I would add that at times those constant fluctuations impact on the fluidity of the songs and the flow of the album generally, but is a minor point, all considering. Chaos and bedlam go hand in hand on “Annihilation” as the manic drumming assault threatens to send the song into oblivion but is controlled by the said riff changes as that thrash urgency is plainly evident. The cool bass and drum start to “A Last Sacrifice” is very catchy and allows the riff to focus the song and when splattered by those intrinsic off kilter Gallic traits the result is excellent.
“One More Explosion” is awash with guitar shredding at its opening as the song builds towards another fine riff break that shoots the song into pure old school death metal which is generally where this album is centred and by old school I mean the more technical based style purveyed by the likes of Death, Pestilence, etc in their mid-careers. The deluge of riff changes is at times avalanching but backing it up is the barraging rhythm section as a more eerie tune in the form of “Mask Of The Dead Witch” follows. The slower more grisly tactic is well placed as the guitar work emphasises a more haunting style but still rife with riff modifications. My reference to Death is plain to behold on “Dead Cold Planet” though the speed is much faster but imbibed with melody as another fine tune manifests with “Skeleton Satellite”. The song initiates with a bass hook and cymbal work that leads into a cascading riff shower as the double kick picks up the pace, which continually shift with sporadic blasting.
“Requiem” which has another off kilter riffing style, as the double bass envelops the song around the quirkiness which leaves only “Guttural Romance” to finale the album before the bonus track. Said closer has an awesome thrash riff to start it that leads into an energised deathrash onslaught that is extremely catchy even with the intermittent blasting. Closing the album by adding a bonus track which wasn’t present on the original release, is “The Comet” which has a markedly different sound and is possibly a demo tune but is rancidly delivered and in some respects I actually preferred the sound here than on the album, but that is my old school affection making an impact, but all the same the song made an impression on me like this whole album and true death metal fans should take the time to check it out.
(8/10 Martin Harris)
https://www.facebook.com/Armageddon-Death-Squad-190638127655159
Leave a Reply