Aint War Hell? is the debut album from new Italian thrash mongers Cruentator, who formed in 2016 and feature members of the gore/death act Bowel Stew. This Xtreem Music debut features eight tracks of furious thrash metal, clearly influenced by the '80s German scene and bands such as Kreator, Sodom, and Destruction. "Tyrants of the Wasteland" and "Merciless Extermination" are chock full of double-bass drum mayhem, snarling vocals, and maniacal whammy bar guitar excursions, while "Barbaric Violence" is a blazing riff fest of epic proportions. Most of the songs fall in the 3-4 minute range, so overall Ain't War Hell? is a tad on the short side, but that's really a good thing as the album doesn't overstay its welcome, kicks your ass and then gets out of dodge. "The Nightstalker" and "Marching Into a Minefield" are also pretty damn venomous, while "The Shining Hate" is a speed demon of blazing intensity.
Not the most original album you are likely to hear in 2018, and truth be told a few tracks here follow too similar of a pattern, but you have to give Cruentator credit for delivering a smoldering platter of Teutonic styled trash metal here in the opening days of the new year.
Track Listing
01 Merciless Extermination 3:36
02 Tyrants of the Wasteland 3:05
03 Barbaric Violence 5:57
04 Evil is Prowling Around 3:48
05 The Nightstalker 4:26
06 Marching Into a Minefield 4:44
07 The Shining Hate 3:19
08 Cluster Terror 3:20