Bretagne based four piece Soulslicer formed in 2020 during the bleak days of Covid-19. Whilst under the constraints of global disease, the band used this time to create an album which could act like an alternate reality of sorts which paints a picture of a world ravaged by disease, war and radioactive destruction. With the current reality still caught in the grips of war and disease, could ‘Pandemic’ be a musical prophecy? Is it worth heeding? Let’s find out.
“Forsaken Sanctuary” opens the post-apocalyptic story, giving us an overview of the bleak situation this musical tale takes place in. Irradiated, disease ridden and overrun by the undead, the setting is pretty bleak and musically it works well. The thrash and death riffing has an intense and ominous edge and the vocals which have a slight flair of Obituary to them help draw you in. The sense of desperation of humanity is evident in the music and as an opening track, it serves its purpose in drawing you in. “Soulslicer (Your Time, Your War)” comes in swinging with its more thrash-laden riff approach, it has that vibrant pulse and plenty of headbanging moments. Gratuitous blasts of double kick and chugging guitars have you nodding along and its empowering feel seems to suggest that there is hope in the bleak situation humanity finds itself in.
“Fake Resurrection“ has a darker edge to the atmosphere. With the buzzing guitars and relentlessly pounding drums, the death metal flair is more prominent on this track. Faster and more aggressive, it’s a more combative track in both its delivery and lyrical content. Still loaded with power and a commanding presence which has been present in the previous tracks, its pounding groove is like a sustained bombardment upon the legion of irradiated monsters which plague humanity. “Flesh Eternal” keeps the groove going with the pounding drum attack. The sound of the drums on this one is huge and the thundering of them helps the relentlessly churning guitars rumble forwards. With a more sinister undercurrent to the vocal delivery and lyrical content, it seems like it is written from the perspective of the inhuman kind in this bleak future and if that is the case, it works well sonically. Harsh vocals, intimidating rumbling guitars and hammering drums which could well be war drums with their ferocity certainly make this a huge track atmospherically!
“Irradiate Your Soul” picks up the pace. The relentless rhythmic attack is still present on this one but the bursts of frantic riff flashes and faster vocals add some urgency. That all turns on its head when the track slows down and hits that classic thrash breakdown led by the hi-hat and lingering lead , turning almost into a sermon of sorts praising the great atomic destroyer. So far, conceptually, this has been a fun album to experience and that enjoyment continues as a ripping shred lead flails about before a final blast of surging riffs. “Armies” is a loaded thrash groove track. The catchy riff hook and rolling drums sets a blistering pace which is matched with a furious paced lyrical delivery. Highly charged, full of urgency and adrenaline, it’s a call to war in this hellish existence, pick a side and fight. Oozing a modern thrash feel, it certainly demands windmilling and pit action as it surges forwards into the final two tracks of the album.
“Radioactive Grave” has a despair and doom-laden atmosphere. Like a modern reimagining of ‘Electric Funeral’, it paints the horrors of the atom when harnessed for destruction. Slow and lumbering, the sinister guitars are matched with an evil death growl vocal delivery. The haunting guitar lead which rises towards the end of the halfway section stays throughout the track, adding a piercing edge and not even once does the slow pace shift. “Archangels Of Atomic Light” closes this 35-minute dose of thrash and death with another call to arms. Told from the point of view of those in the undead and irradiated side, it acts as a bleak reminder that hope is futile and you cannot kill what doesn’t die. With its big groove and massive drums, it sings the praises of the radioactive destruction, breaking into bursts of drumblasts to shift the pace but relentlessly grinding away as it closes the album in a heavy fashion.
In all, “Pandemic” is a good album. It’s a decent blend of thrash metal, death metal and storytelling which makes for a good listen but unlike one of its central themes, it lacks something which can take it to critical mass or cause a chain reaction to make it blow up in style. It’s straightforward but lacks spark.
(7/10 Fraggle)
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