Getting a one word band name that is unique is nigh on impossible these days as this Polish version of Hellspawn is without doubt one of the most savage around as they batter the world with their third album which sees a myriad of influences being welded together to create a beastly release. Their name may be one word but their song titles are mostly certainly not, as the starting tune “Do Not Be Among The Idolaters” attests to and starts with an obligatory fade-in intro sequence before unleashing a pyroclastic drum annihilation that Doc (Vader) would have been proud of. The spoken words offer a creepy aspect to the bands song writing which generally displays bloodied death metal emanations but coupled to a glacial saturation similar to Behemoth with some awesome riffing insertions.
The opening riff to, take a deep breath, “Hung On A Tree – Damned By His Father” is pure Behemoth but not cloned as the double kick blasting carpet bomb the song to devastating effect. The symphonic start to “Antitrinitarian” is good but sits uncomfortably initially after the two song decimation preceding it as an awesome riff punctuates the tune excellently creating a dramatic and potent approach right before those double kick blasts rain down remorselessly. The use of varied vocal tones is great to hear, with from outright larynx annihilation to softer more demonic tones but equally malfeasant. As I stated earlier this album is peppered with far reaching global influences as the more denser death metal parts have a Vital Remains and Immolation like delivery and when united to the blasting fury of Vader and Behemoth influences you get a cauldron of molten sonic obliteration.
“Hallelujah” will have listeners screaming Nile as its opening symphonic tones quickly dissolve for a dense undercurrent of pervasive riffing and dominant drums which may cause some to criticise the release which is ridiculous as drums are pivotal in extreme metal music so I commend its domination in the mix. The grisly riff that begins “Upon Entering The Valley They Did Not Fear” is brutally effective as it gouges into the song with a deep demonic drawl on the vocals. Swathes of tempo shifting within the song enable it to be a stand out on the album for me as a blackened cloak surrounds the song in its finale via a cold malicious riff which is swallowed into the tune brilliantly. Closing this excellent album is the title track a seven minute sonic exploration of your worst nightmares as the opening atmospheric tones set the scene for aural terrorising that is initiated with its fantastic riff. The double bass that follows is seismic with fluctuating pace changes sculpting the song along avenues of sheer auditory terror as a spoken vocal piece unfurls in the songs very similarly to Nile and ends this album so magnificently.
If you like your death metal gruesomely horrifying, obscenely dense and utterly hideous then Hellspawn are for you and be quick as this album is out on a hand numbered limited edition run with a gold CD.
(8.5/10 Martin Harris)
https://www.facebook.com/Hellspawn.Metal
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