This German death metal band has been around for nigh on three decades releasing eight albums alongside various splits and EPs. I picked up on this band back in the early 2000s and was suitably impressed to continue following their albums since then. One thing is for sure, the quality of their discography is undoubted and whilst progression is always something bands try to produce Purgatory have done it by increasing their song writing prowess, improving their musicianship but always retaining their core bludgeoning approach that is prevalent on all of their releases.
There is little subtlety on this ninth album, it blasts out the moment ‘’(We Declare) War’ starts, as the hyper blasting speed is something the band has always purveyed but here it seems that more hostile, that more violent and that more incendiary. However, to say that the Germans just want to obliterate the listener would be doing them a disservice as their songs are tempered with mid-tempo catchy phases to set that head nodding.
‘Accused, Sentenced And Buried Alive’ is what you’d expect, it intensifying build-up leads into the double bass incursions adding weight and density as I felt we have something akin to Vader, that pronounced deathly demolition the Poles have but done the Purgatory way. Straight in and without remorse is ‘Ropes In November (Samhain’s Curse Part III)’ a song as relentless as it is utterly battering from start to finish. ‘We Were Forced Astray’ really caught my ear, preferring to utilise a dramatic opening, building effortlessly as the drum work impacts on the density hugely. As it develops it unveils a melodic side to the bands armoury as riff changes adorn the tune before its crushing finale.
Equally effective is the simply titled ‘Deny! Deny! Deny!’ a track that returns to their outright blasted ferocity as the monstrous heaviness threatens to pulverise you to oblivion when the tune slows to a miasmic gutter crawling sludge. On an album packed with highlights it is difficult to identify favourites because every track is certifiably brilliant in its own way but I will mention ‘God Loves None Of You’, its riff really claws you in, as at times I felt there were some similarities to Morbid Angel to give you a reference point but considering this band has been around so long I wouldn’t want you think they clone anyone, because they certainly do not. The riff change is excellent, coupled to the expected blasted section as the album closes with ‘Pantheon Of Slaughters’. At seven minutes plus you would expect something slower, more atmospheric and to some degree that is what you get as the song harnesses a brutally heavy initial sequence, layering on the musicality that reminded me of Asphyx and to some degree Immolation for that oppressive suffocating and choking density. The song is possibly the heaviest on the album even though it isn’t necessarily rabid on speed but the result is extremely effective.
An awesome ninth album by Germany’s Purgatory, one that death metal fans the world over should be checking out as I guarantee there’ll be few to match it in 2022.
(9/10 Martin Harris)
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