The press release labels this trio as Swedish Thrash Maniacs and while I can wholly concur in regards to this statement musically, Fredrik Wester’s vocals are more a blend of Gothenburg death metal and black metal rasps than any thrash bands I listen to. This is their second album and their first for new label Cyclone Empire and they’re taking no prisoners with their all-out speed and ferocity giving no respite for the length of the entire album.
Opening with the title track “Exoneration Denied”, you are immediately blasted by Mattias Kern’s drums with its pounded snare repeatedly whacked crash cymbals which fade into the blistering “Drone Wars” where Fredrik Wester sprints through a number of tight riffs on his guitar before belting out a lead break.
“Filled With Hate” has a battery of sound supplied by Kern that aurally assaults you as Wester’s vocals scour out your ear canals is topped by the lead that’ll pierce your eardrums and leave them bleeding.
The rumble of Kristian Martinsson’s bass is only audible on the intro to “Inflammatory” because once the track ignites it blends into the wall of sound and speed.
“Retribution Unfold” has a slightly more tempered speed that allows Wester to chug out some heavy riffs and hold the notes when playing the lead as there’s no rush to complete it in a terribly short space of time, similarly on “The Prince” where the lead is played at half pace to give it more breathing room.
Possibly the slowest track on the album “Nation Divided” feels like it’s plodding along owing to the relentless blasting everywhere else, but it also allows Wester to snarl out his vocals with far more inflection.
Upping the pace again we have “Slit With Razor” then upping it a little more there’s “Roman Disfigure” going on about everyone’s favourite psychotic Roman, Caligula.
“Pried From Earth” is the final track and ends proceedings as they began, but with some backing vocals on the chorus and a rather sweeping lead that hits plenty of high notes for its duration.
While not bad at all, I can’t say I’d go out of my way to listen to them too often, as in the end the unrelenting pace becomes slightly monotonous and after having the album playing in a loop for two days I can’t really discern one track from another without actually looking at what’s playing, that’s never a good sign.
(5/10 – Marco Gaminara)
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