Not content to let acts like Testament, Megadeth, Metallica, and Exodus continue to lead the thrash revival, Denmark's Artillery are back with their first platter of new material since 1999's B.A.C.K., and let's just say they are back in a big way. When Death Comes, their new release on Metal Mind Productions, is a slamming, steaming, rip snortin' pile of juggernaut thrash, probably the most inspired this act has ever sounded. Just listen to the open statement that is the title track, chock full of mammoth riffs, precision rhythms, and solid vocals. This one doesn't relent from start to finish, other standouts include the manic "Upon My Cross I Crawl", the epic sounding "10,000 Devils", the progressive "Delusions of Grandeur", and the Annihilator influenced "Not a Nightmare". Honestly, this album quite simply cooks, Artillery conjuring up more crunchy riff-o-rama here than most bands can put together over their entire careers. Not only are the guitar riffs great, the rhythms are solid as all hell, and the vocals spot on, helping make these already memorable songs even that more memorable. Even when the band slows it down a bit, like they do on the massive, almost doomy crunch of "Damned Religion", the listening experience is just as captivating. Kudos to new singer Soren Adamsen, who seems to have really injected some new life into this band, giving a swift kick in the ass to founding guitarists Morten and Michael Stutzer, who deliver their best six string performance ever throughout this CD.
When Death Comes sounds fantastic from a production standpoint as well, the guitars extra crunchy and upfront in the mix, but certainly not drowning out the standout rhythms and powerful vocals. This is simply menacing, commanding, precise heavy metal, and easily some of the best thrash you will have heard in years.
Warning: Repeated spins will result in severe neck trauma.
Track Listing
1) When Death Comes
2) Upon My Cross I Crawl
3) 10,000 Devils
4) Rise Above It All
5) Sandbox Philosophy
6) Delusions of Grandeur
7) Not a Nightmare
8) Damned Religion
9) Uniform
10) The End
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