Metal Team UK recruits have recently been donning their hard hats and heading deep into the mines, all in order to bring you a sample of the deepest, darkest, underground metal. `Trumpet of Triumph’ is the third release from this blasphemous American crew, which from what I can gather is currently a two-man outfit, comprised of Jeff Gruslin (from Vital Remains) and Toby Knapp (from power metallers Onward). This may seem like an odd pairing indeed, but read on and make up your own mind...
If your idea of death metal is something that sounds like a bowel movement set to blast beats, this album is not for you. If you like gurgling, porcine vocals, totally tuneless slamming, or relentless blasting, look elsewhere for your musical thrills. This album is strictly for fans of the so-called `old school’ – this is death metal with actual riffs and actual songs.
Production-wise, this is very much in the old school vein, in that it hasn’t either been totally over-produced, or not produced at all! The sound is very clear, and has a fairly cutting, thrashy sound, which reminds me a little of the sort of sound Pessimist have on some of their albums – nasty, aggressive, powerful and dramatic. All instruments can be heard clearly, and nothing is lost, buried or too loud.
Jeff Gruslin’s vocals come across wonderfully, every growling, snarling blasphemy clear and precise. Alternating between throaty rasps and deep growls, he sounds as if he means every word, and comes across as every bit the dramatic frontman.
As for the music, well it’s a dream for lovers of the old bands. I had intended to say in this review that the album wasn’t very original, but after repeated listens I still find moments that take me by surprise, and the way they blend those classic influences together is pretty original after all!
So, we have a whole heap of darkly thrashy, cranium-ruining riffs and rhythms reminiscent of Death, Massacre and Pestilence. There is a smorgasbord of evil blasting mayhem, with a nod to early Morbid Angel and Angel Corpse. We also have a plethora of incredible guitar moments; amazing sweeping solos and harmonies which will have you reaching for that air guitar within seconds. Godless Rising manage to merge these influences together into one complete package, as well as adding something purely of their own making.
Rather than being simple thrashy, old-style death metal, Godless Rising have many different layers; there are a lot of little dissonant, rather avant-garde moments which make the music pretty unique. There are also some stunning three part guitar harmonies and classic metal riffs which remind me of none other than the legendary Dethklok! Whatever your feelings on that cartoon metal band, there is no doubt that it is intended as an affectionate tribute to all things metal, and the same can be said here – this band sounds like it eats, breathes and sleeps metal.
This album is nasty, visceral, rip-roaring, dramatic death metal with killer riffs and great songs. If you think this sounds like your sort of thing, I urge you to get some Godless Rising into your ears!
http://www.myspace.com/godlessrising
