The second of my double gruesome German death metal albums that kicked off my November reviews is this excellent fourth album by New World Depression who have completely slipped by me in the last decade somehow I’m ashamed to say. Germany is churning out some outstanding death metal bands these days and NWD can be added to that growing list as this album takes its cue from everything that warmongering death metal has to offer. That warmongering death metal superlative has probably got you thinking about one certain UK band and you’d be right as this bunch certainly has their sound firmly within target range of Bolt Thrower that’s for sure.

Opening with ‘Ceremony Of Delusion’ you hear wind noises and bell tolling which may be a cliché but it sets the scene for the sonic demolition that’s to come, it foreshadows the impending annihilation you about to witness as the chainsaw guitar sound comes forth from your speakers as though you’re on the stage in the studio with the guys as they’re playing it; or a battlefield if you prefer. There are obvious Swedeath reference points to their structures too with the riff changes and cool double kick invasions adding a layer of catchiness as ‘Scoff Till Death’ follows. The grislier slower aura is very effective allowing the vocals to take on the cavernous drawl that is so low it blends into the bass tones.

Bolt Thrower is splattered all over ‘Panzer’ where the drum fill opening is lashed with double kick that all fans of BT will get a kick out of; I certainly did. It’s not carving new ground, don’t get me wrong, but it doesn’t need to when the intent so precise and definitive. The quiet start to ‘Nasha’ offers huge contrast and you wonder where the song is going before it abruptly crashes in with a degree of chaotic structuring. The unveiling of a catchy riff is a master stroke allowing the song to really hook you in as more Bolt Thrower rears up like the proverbial tank on ‘Descent to Hell’.

I do like songs that begin with a couple of snare taps as on ‘Devils Slavery’, you just know the song is going to tear your face off, which it does, but is also saturated with melody courtesy of the double bass cascades which add colossal impact and weight. This leaves ‘Hate.Kill.Repeat’ to finish this monster album where the much slower riffing positions the track in a doom death atmosphere. I did think the album was going to waddle to a conclusion but instead the sharp almost tangential oblique increase in speed caught me out as the song hurtles along gradually producing the blast phase ensuring you realise that New World Depression are a merciless bombarding force.

(8.5/10 Martin Harris)

https://www.facebook.com/newworlddepression

https://fuckingkillrecords.bandcamp.com/album/new-world-depression-descent