Artist: Wardom
Title: When Darkness Reigns
Type: EP
Label: Metal Supremacy

This is the debut release from an Australian band formed at the beginning of 2009. Considering where they are from and the fact there is a pentagram on the cover and the words blackened thrash on the blurb it was no problem having preconceived ideas about what this was going to sound like before pressing play. I was ready and poised to name-check all the obvious scummers from down under, Destroyer 666, Bestial Warlust, Gospel Of The Horns, Vomitor etc, ad infinitum and then I got a sound much subtler and completely at odds from this. The main reason is no doubt due to the fact that the two band members Joel Green (drums, vocals) and Tony Kirk (guitars and bass) have been involved in the Australian metal scene since the 80s’ and have played in a variety of acts such as Armoured Angel, Kill For Satan and Exceed. So despite having a blasphemous and extreme execution behind them, their sound is more refined and goes back to the roots of their past rather than go for full out extermination ala the more modern acts who accept no compromise.

If anything ‘I Am The Wolf’ has a punk fuel to it as it swaggers in and sets about biting with a pogo etched melody. The chorus is catchy and had me scratching my head before realising it reminded me a fair bit of Hazel O’Connor classic ‘Eighth Day.’ It is metal though, the guitar soloing and bombast behind it makes this clear and it’s probably the standout track of the five here. ‘(Ride The) Demon Whores Of Sodom’ is a great title and takes us back to the golden age of bands such as Hobbs Angel Of Death, this is biker metal with a chain around it, sniffing meth and watching Stone after a night fighting on the town. Joel’s vocals may well be craggy and gnarly but they are easily understandable and suit the music perfectly. ‘Crucifier’ blazes in and picks things up a notch and does thrash things up, there are plenty of hints to the Germanic hordes here but wrapped up in a way that only the Australians seem to manage. Wrecked neck brought to the fore a slower but no less heavier head stomper ‘United Thy Horde’ finishes this all too brief but promising disc off.

Be interesting to see where Wardom go from here, they certainly have potential and should appeal, I can imagine them going down a storm in Germany and am not surprised that this has been picked up by a German label at all. Bit more effort in the art department would not have gone amiss; there is plenty of room for a tank or something on the understated cover. Still early days yet and this is worth checking out.

http://www.myspace.com/wardom666