It’s good to see Czech band Godless Truth back like an old friend. Some years ago I saw them play somewhere in North London, possibly supporting Vomit Remnants at that pub at Archway, and liked their brutal style so much that I bought their album “Arrogance of Supreme Power”. That would have been around 2004, and they were experienced musicians, having been death metalling for 10 years then. No longer bothering with nonsense like titles, this album is their 5th full release to go with numerous demos and splits.

This album is less raw and more produced than I remember from this band. That’s a pity but it’s a sign of the times I guess. Technical death metal is how it’s described. Manic brutal death metal might be a better description. Utterly uncompromising, triggering and battering drums lead the way for a brutal screamy assault. The technicality comes from the guitar which provides the twists and the solo in this rapid excursion. Such is “Decision”. After a short little piece, the technical strains of “Scissors” are upon us. Murderously it bludgeons along its merry way at some pace and with merciless ferocity and guitar kicks. “Breathe Fire” is just pure adrenaline-driven brutality before “Fortune Time” continues the trend of disembowelling people, but with a jolly technical riff of course to enhance the aural battery and thrusting scenes of chaos and disorder. “Bred in Greed” races forward like a juggernaut but with a flourishing passage in the middle before resuming normal growly juggernaut duties. Quite apart from the aggression and violence, these pieces have a fluidity about them and interesting structures, breaking off into colourful guitar-driven passages or venomous breaks without losing pace, power or purpose. “RIP Cage” is exciting for this reason, switching tempo and style while keeping the level of threat and aggression. The album finishes with one last volley of adrenaline in “Wake Up to Obey”. Such is the force that we must wake up and we must obey.

If you like bands like Psycroptic, you’d like this. Tight as ever and with interesting progressions to accompany the rapid-fire brutality, it’s strange to report that something so menacing is a breath of fresh air, but that’s what it is.

(7.5/10 Andrew Doherty)

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https://godlesstruthband.bandcamp.com/album/godless-truth-technical-death-metal