What better way to clock in the new year than with a bit of thrash metal? With my fervent anticipation for the new Kreator album in January now rendered well and truly deflated, there is a massive bullet belt hole just waiting to be filled with something with a bit more bite. If your hopes were shattered as were mine, then this slab of thrash could be exactly what you need to fill that gap.
Guillotine are not quite the neophytes you may, or may not, be thinking. In 1997 they released their debut album before slipping off the radar embarking upon a ten year hiatus. In this time, Nils Erikson and Fredrik Mannberg have not exactly been idle as they have been hard at work with their more established band Nocturnal Rites. This, however, bears little resemblance to the melodic power metal sounds of this band.
From the offset, this seeks to give the listener a thorough pounding as ‘Insane Oppression’ comes walloping in with an ear splitting yell atop a punishing drum foray and a sequence of truly angry riffage. While initially I have my reservations about this album, after a number of plays it begins to reveal itself to me and it becomes clear that this is the album that Hordes of Chaos simply wishes it was. This draws plenty of parallels to the Germanic thrash bands like Kreator and Tankard, in fact, putting this in the stereo with the new Kreator was a bad idea as it was difficult to tell where one ended and the next began, although once I gave this my full attention it became easier to see this in a better light.
There are generally some tasty riffs that pack a real punch, such as on ‘Die/Live’ and on ‘Rebellion’ which comes at you with devastating force. There’s a hint of early Sepultura in the scything guitars on this track, while with its exchange of fluid solos and punchy riffs ‘Welcome to Dying (Death, Destruction & Pain)’ brings to mind Exodus track ‘War Is My Shepherd’.
There is a constant feeling that the drummer is really on the warpath as he relentlessly bashes away on ‘Liar’ which really hits you with its sheer aggression and high velocity attack while Fredrik accuses us of being a liar in such a manner that I would want to recoil and quiver a little as I attempt to come up with a reply. The lyrics seem to carry a certain political thread with tracks like ‘Blood Money’ and ‘War’, although you only have to look at the Ed Repka portrayal of all of the world leaders with blood stained banknotes and their glasses of wine to know they have a political agenda here. ‘Insanity’ is another catchy little number that carries some nice Bay Area riffing, while a sinuous lead play works its way from out of the heaviness which brings an element of melody into the mix.
If you are after something original then Blood Money will probably do little to spark your interest, although there is plenty here to keep the thrash fan happy, with some catchy riffs and memorable songs that will have you counting down the final moments of 2008 with thrashing momentum.
http://www.pulverised.net
http://www.myspace.com/guillotine2007
