Ah yes, one of my all time favorite death metal bands Blood Red
Throne is back to reap and sew mayhem unto the masses with their
brutal, old school death metal stylings. Souls of Damnation marks the
5th album for these underground Norwegian behemoths, and it seems
nothing is going to get in their way on their 10th anniversary. I can’t
think of any way to bring in this monumental occasion for Blood Red
Throne than by releasing an album like Souls of Damnation, which
contains almost a faultless assault of headbangery.
To say that Souls of Damnation is a great death metal record is an
understatement, because few these days can do what Blood Red
Throne can do. They maintain a very loyal, traditional death metal
sound while still throwing in enough groove to make sure you never
turn away to look for something more “modern.” You won’t find many
breakdowns here though, Souls of Damnation is track after brutal
track of a sound that not many dare take on, which is probably why
many mainstream death metallers haven’t discovered this amazing
band yet.
For comparisons, I’d say Blood Red Throne is a combination of
Suffocation’s bass driven New York Death Metal, Morbid Angel’s
Domination era groove emblazoned relentlessness, and of course a
healthy helping of Cannibal Corpse pleasantries. Obviously this is
interesting because one would think that a death metal band from
Norway would borrow heavily from the Swedish scene, or the black
metal scene of their native country, but Blood Red Throne are
accustomed to defying what is common it would seem. Souls of
Damnation is a crisp definition in violence with every lick and drum
beat coming off clear as day with its impressive production values. By
the way, what is it with band’s adulation of Morbid Angel’s “Where the
Slime Live?” Human Fraud” on Souls of Damnation is in large part a
direct disciple of of the previously mentioned song. Not negative, but
an interesting side note.
The bottom line, if you thought Cannibal Corpse had a hit with
Evisceration Plague, check this puppy out and you may have to re-
prioritize your end of the year list. Souls of Damnation is ALMOST the
best death metal record of the year so far, seconded only by Napalm
Death!
Review by All Metal Resource
|
