Fed up waiting for the new Morbid Angel, tired of playing Sonne Adam to death? Well look no further than the UK as Spearhead ‘Theomachia’ has landed. This Roman Empire obsessed legion have really risen through the ranks and second album ‘Decrowning The Irenech’ was a pummelling tour de force. Seeing the band live on a few occasions, I noticed them growing in confidence and delivering the goods but it has been a bit quiet of late with a four year gap between albums. Things have been going on within the group in that time including various members decamping and joining; in the newer line-up (and very noticeable from start to finish) is ex Belphegor drummer Torturer.
This really is a rabidly punishing album and it bristles with a massive militant fervour. Opening instrumental ‘Eschatos’ simply batters in, there is no subtlety here just a powerful guitar scythe and drum blasting mindset before the ghostly backing chants ooze from the very mists of time themselves and we are flung into first track proper ‘The Lie Of Progression.’ It would be a cliché to say there is little in the way of progression sound-wise here, very little is needed when the most necessary form of attack is obliterating your enemies. Vocalist Barghest rasps away with guttural power and determined anger, as though he is commanding armies and the occasional spiralling guitar solos leap out the mix with a strangulating ferocity. The drums as I said are ever present, driving the pace into a headlong flurry that never lets up. There are some militaristic samples thrown into the mix adding to the atmosphere and the narrative; one where a degree in Roman history, ancient civilisations and great military battles may well come in handy. You can either try and get further into the lyrical content of songs like ‘Kshatriya’ or just revel in the last line and “raise a prayer to total war.” At its most ferocious, as on the jagged attack of ‘Perdition Tide’ this leaves you virtually breathless as it comes at you like an overriding army crushing, killing and mangling all in its path.
I have a really short attention span with death metal in general and find it totally one dimensional a lot of the time, this however seems to offer something of distinction and personality with each song, for instance the stop / start tumult of ‘Polemos Pater Panton’ or the atmospheric half point instrumental ‘Praesagium’ It’s impossible to pick a highlight as everything is incredibly tightly honed here and the whole album obliterates over its 37 minute running time urging you to play it again at finish. The moody closer ‘Aftermath’ seals the coffin and we feel like we have just witnessed the crumbling of a mighty civilisation in musical form. Well worth checking out.
http://www.myspace.com/spearheadofficial
Pete Woods
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