Back in 2018, four mates got together to have some fun and ending up recording an album just for the hell of it, never expecting anything to come from it, but it kicked up quite a storm and sooner or later thoughts started to turn to another one. Of course, that statement can be said for many bands, but when the band is pretty much a supergroup of course expectations run pretty high. With Chris Reifert on vocals (Autopsy, Siege of Power, Violation Wound, Abscess, Painted Doll), guitarist Paul Baayens (Asphyx, ex-Hail of Bullets, Thanatos), bassist Theo van Eekelen (ex-Hail of Bullets, ex-Houwitser, ex-Grand Supreme Blood Court) and drummer Bob Bagchus (ex-Asphyx, Soulburn, ex-Grand Supreme Blood Court) this was always going to be a band who were the sum of their parts, as well as their own influences, and for this album they brought in elements from old school bands like Venom, Bathory, Slayer and even Black Sabbath.
Reifert has been at the forefront of extreme metal for many years, and his switch from drummer to singer has been seamless, and while he has combined the role in the likes of Autopsy, here he is concentrating just on the one role. I was playing this while doing some work and I was surprised at just how much they are channelling Venom at times, while they switch through different genres and speeds which can make it somewhat strange to listen to in that while it is always heavy and massively over the top they are not willing to stick within one particular genre but like to run through the gamut of metal. The guys are incredibly tight, no matter if it is doom or death, but the star of the show is Reifert who allows himself to provide over the top vocals no matter what else is taking place. While this is not as impactful or powerful as many of his other works, this is still an album worth seeking out for its musical content as opposed to just who is involved. It may not be truly essential but there are plenty of times when it is a lot of fun.
Rating: 7/10
Links:
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