I Hail I

Been sixteen fucking years since this band's last album, the disappointing Evil Power, since then there have just been a few EPs and singles to indicate this band was even still extant. Their last EP was pretty good, but it was still thirteen years ago, so I had no idea what was going to come out when I slapped this one on. This band used to be one of the heaviest, gnarliest bands around, channeling the classic sounds of proto-Thrash from the old days of Sodom or Hellhammer. I wondered if they could do that shit again.

They have. This is a short album at just about 30 minutes, but it fucking slays. Once again, we get those propulsive, headbanging primal riffs and the lyrical venom spit forth that reimagines myth as a horror movie. The songs are often pretty short, but they don't feel short; they feel lean and deadly. Shit like "Enthroned in Violence" or "Tartarus Apocalypse" hit with steel-edged riffs and vicious aggression. I was prepared to find this band had lost their edge for good, but this album proves they have it back with a vengeance. Is this as good as shit like The Ultimate Destroyer or War Metal Battle Master? Not quite, but it's still a kickass album.