I remember on my 3rd visit to Paris and bringing with me on audio cassette (yeah, I’m old) of the then recent release of Testament’s seminal album Practice What You Preach. I was enthralled by Chuck Billy’s powerful voice more than the Eiffel Tower and Mona Lisa combined. Accused is back together and stronger than ever and I’m feeling that same thrill with the opening number “Mission: Missile.” It’s got the Testament tonal qualities and perhaps production values too but it’s such a giant killer to introduce the album. Song one and I am already blown away.
It didn’t take Accuser very long to leave influences behind and start assaulting the airwaves with “The Real World” a rough and ready song that is structured like a Pantera anthem until you begin to hear a thrash guitar rhythm that easily becomes their signature sound. The ironically titled “Time for Silence” is anything but that as it lifts off with chord changes reminiscent of Metallica’s Justice record. And then reverts back to a thrash-propelled charging train approximation. If this is silence, I can just imagine noise.
“My Skin” is not a black metal topic but its overwhelming darkness makes it a candidate by default. A similar fate is assigned to “Catacombs” via speed metal creepiness and expert Gatling gun drumming that is the glue to this tight terror of tenacity. I especially love the aerial solos straight out of Helloween only these are far more satisfying.
“Mourning” and “Ruthless” are remarkably basic punch in the gut songs that allow the vocalist to belt his way to immortal victory. Sometimes the simple grabs your attention in a more profound manner.
“Into the Black” reminds us again how much musical integrity these guys possess as they plow head first into a morass of social relevance. Metal seldom gets credit for intellectual introspection but it should.
The title track “The Mastery” is the final song on this wicked ride of rhetoric and acoustic rocketry and its delivers the whammy of the entire project with a haunting bridge and a committed singer destined to slay digital dragons and dominate the stage of live performance. This rendition is so earth-shattering it actually sounds like it was recorded in a dead volcano. Some say Accuser never went away. Others say welcome back. But I’m pretty confident this version of Accuser is not taking things for granted.
Track List
1.
Mission: Missile 04:14
2.
The Real World 04:33
3.
Solace in Sorrow 05:09
4.
Time for Silence 05:07
5.
My Skin 05:41
6.
Catacombs 04:46
7.
Mourning 05:21
8.
Ruthless 04:37
9.
Into the Black 04:01
10.
The Mastery 06:57
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