There is absolutely no doubt which band inspires this old school death metal outfit and that’s Bolt Thrower. Every song reeks of that warring onslaught we all loved about those UK deathsters. Having formed in 2018 the band has released a few splits plus a demo in 2019 and 2020 as they have been quickly picked up by Century Media for this debut full length that will certainly be in many top 20 death metal album lists in 2021 such is its enduring quality.

Three of the songs from the bands demo ‘Encased In Ice’ have been included on the album but completely re-recorded and benefitting from the substantial impacting production afforded. Kicking off the album is the title track where the fine dramatic and foreboding intro section really sets the scene for with its portentous ominous approach. After the intro section concludes the album bulldozes into life with dense riffing and a bone sawing guitar sound and wholly enveloping deathliness that few in this genre really truly generate. I especially liked how the band utilises slower riffs for that punishing bombardment amplified by the continuous double kick that saturates this album, in true Bolt Thrower fashion.

‘Arctic Stranglehold’ continues that bombardment by pulverising the listener without any sign of blasting that OSDM fans will find particularly addictive. This grisly gruesome assault has a permeating metastasising horror created by that slower song writing style. Into ‘Hand Of Vengeance’ and the pace picks up substantially with a snapping tempo to give those unexercised neck muscles a work out. There are touches of Dutch act Asphyx and Danish act Panzerchrist splattered around too especially when the songs change to faster tempos but also due to the abrasive guitar sound. ‘Merciless’ is a track that people familiar with the band will recognise having appeared on the demo, only this version is far denser and heavier. Likewise with ‘Encased In Ice’ where the wind affected intro sequence leads the tune down ghoulish paths before the armour piercing riffs stab through. The slower pervasive edge is corrosively malevolent approaching doom death until the song swerves brilliantly into catchy double bass led riffing. The switch to blast beat was surprising but works to enhance the volatility but this band are utter masters at delivering that dirty death metal effluence that corrupts and debases.

Every intro piece that is used to announce the songs is well placed and appropriate, as ‘Beat To Dust’ proves with more menacing before the fabulous riff that bores into the mix with empowering prowling intensity. ‘Twist The Knife’ again has a decent intro of backing noises that conjure up images of horror movies especially when it intensifies and the riff crashes in. That carpet bombing double kick saturates this tune producing a catchiness that is utterly groove infested.

Closing the album is ‘Gravedigger’ where another cool intro piece is heard that wouldn’t be remiss on a dark synth album and if the band wants a side project they could consider this style as the choice. The doomier riffing structure produces a track that is massively opaque as again they deploy the double bass to devastating effect. The riff change is subtly done and sees the song lift upwards in mood but no less oppressive.

Start 2021 with an absolutely cataclysmic death metal album that seeps into your bones with slaughterous devastating barbarity.

(9/10 Martin Harris)

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