Toby Knapp could never be accused of lying idle. The American guitar maestro spreads his time across solo projects, Affliktor and his thrashy black metal project, Waxen just to mention a few. “Die Macht Von Hassen” is the sixth release under the Waxen name and it is a showpiece for what black metal was and should be. The title comes from the German meaning “the power of hate” and gives a hint at what to expect. The man’s love for the genre and classic metal with scintillating guitar work is always something to look forward to. Onward to the blackened depths then…
Opening with the title track and a tribal beat, the explosive carnage is immediate. There’s a sense of epic proportion as a melodic pace emerges reminiscent of Primordial. The vocals, as always are throat shedding with a sense of evil that is almost indescribable and brings to mind Bathory. A Judas Priest “Painkiller” on steroids riff shows up on “God Of All Endings” with a guitar break that could be one the best I’ve heard from this wonderful musician. Unexpected twists and turns galore keep the listener intrigued and challenge the senses.
“Your Kingdom Will Bleed” is a vicious aural attack that brings in moments of elegant neo-classical flourishes. These are things we expect from Waxen but they never cease to amaze. What becomes obvious is that despite Knapp’s talent and ability for fretboard pyrotechnics, it’s always the total song that comes first. Many artists will simply use the song as a background platform for showboating but everything has a place and a purpose here. The overarching sense of darkness pervades this track as it melts into a “Reign In Blood” era Slayer maelstrom. The macabre tones found in the closing track “Holocaust Light” are equally compelling and disturbing. The latter section invokes militaristic beats and lighting fast displays of six-string wizardry.
This is another powerful display of the Waxen sound. The five tracks span around 30 minutes; each concise and brutal yet displaying the tasteful nature of Toby Knapp’s talent. “Die Macht Von Hassen” is another testament to the imaginative power of this unique musician.
(8/10 Johnny Zed)
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