The second album by this Danish quartet since their formation 5 years ago out of the ashes of Radtskaffen by guitarist/vocalist Ben Radtleff and bassist Bjørn Hjortgaard being joined by drummer Max Petrén Bach Hansen and guitarist Aria Mobbarez. Their style of thrash is fun, energetic, and as heavy as it should be to get the message across.
The title track is also the first song on the album, with its opening scream becoming a roar of “Post Necrotic Human” with accentuated drumbeats and muted guitars adding to the emphasis of the chant. The verses are up-tempo with a catchy riff which drops into the muted guitar, while the lead beak is flowery and fast.
Reminding me a little of Nuclear Assault with its voracious attack, “Fascist State” has ultra-rapid drumming and quick guitar changes, while the vocals are far gruffer than anything John Connelly produces.
Feeling rather ballad-like in comparison for the opening minute, “The Butcher” eventually picks up its pace as the footwork leaves nothing to be desired with its constant rumble which the bass amplifies by matching perfectly.
The rather politically charged “Crossfire” is littered with sound bites, but it’s the soaring lead breaks that really grab the headlines as they’re blisteringly quick and work well with the fast rhythm riff.
The vocals on “The Wheel” get raspier as the song goes on to add to the effect of strain involved in keeping things turning.
Stepping up even further is “Sarnarth”, but as soon as you think they can’t go any faster they don’t and slow things down to a crawl with tinkering cymbals and drawn-out riffs to add to a feeling of unease before heading back to the breakneck speed after a low death metal growl.
The rather sombre “Killing A Friend” has anguished, almost shrieked vocals over the slower doomy tempo and meandering bassline, combined with the morose lead and melancholy guitar sound.
“Day After Day” has a great bouncy feel to its delivery and even when the double-kick intensifies the feel is maintained, as it is when the pace is halved to a slow foot tapping. The only time the bounce is missing is during the manic lead break when everything is racing along as fast as it can.
By this point in the album you think you know what to expect, then “Capital Punishment” surprises you with its mid-paced tempo and the addition of backing vocals for the first time.
They end the album with “Warmonger” where the chanted chorus is a nice touch on this the shortest song on the album.
Sure, thrash has been around for a while now, but it’s still nice to have to new blood in there doing it justice with their take on what we enjoy.
(8/10 Marco Gaminara)
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