So Kreator dropped a new album last week, and as you’ve likely figured out by now, I haven’t even bothered giving it a listen, let alone consider reviewing it for this here outlet. I’ve had people hit me up in the last few days saying something to the effect of, “It’s not as bad as their last few.”, which tells me everything I need to know. Describing something as “not as bad” doesn’t make it good, and it certainly doesn’t make it the follow up to Coma of Souls we’ll never get. It means it’s bad…just slightly less bad than the last few Kreator albums before it, or so these “glass half full” types would like you to believe.
Why all this talk about Kreator? Well, I’ve stumbled upon a band who just put out the album that Kreator SHOULD be making this century. They’re called Total Annihilation, and despite the generic nature of their moniker, they’ve been death-thrashing it up for the past 20 years. And this is my first time hearing about them? Where the hell have I been? In my defense, over the course of their two decade run, Total Annihilation’s latest album, Mountains of Madness, is only their fourth. Like many bands, they’ve gone through their fair share of personnel changes, and it turns out 2/5ths of this album’s lineup have since departed, prior to its release.
Nevertheless, these dudes had a full album in the can and were ready to drop it, full lineup or not. Upon first listen, I can’t blame them for such restlessness. At its strongest, Mountains of Madness is an exercise in unrelenting, nerve-shattering death/thrash in the tradition of Pleasure to Kill era Kreator and Persecution Mania era Sodom, albeit with a modern slant to the production, arrangements, etc. The opening “The Art of Torture” establishes this formula efficiently with its bulldozing drumming and militant riffage, and is aptly complimented by the likes of “Age of Mental Suicide”, “Nyctophobia”, and “Beneath the Cross”.
No doubt about it, Total Annihilation are at their strongest when they’re at their fastest. When they aren’t, or when emphasizing the “death” side of the death/thrash equation, results may and do vary. At best, we’ve got some slamming, knuckle-draggers akin to Demolition Hammer (i.e. “Chokehold”, “Hate Remains”). At worst, we’ve got faceless Bolt Thrower worship which, although not as cringe-worthy as that being done stateside by the hardcore chumps who’ve hoped aboard the death metal bandwagon, does no favors to this release as a whole (i.e. “Choose the Day”, “Invisible Conflagration”). Admittedly, it’s a matter of preference, but I’m just a little burnt out on hearing …for Victory riffs regurgitated for the zillionth time.
Occasional holdups aside, Mountains of Madness is a largely enjoyable album that achieves its purpose, which is unleashing pure metallic brutality. Total Annihilation sure live up to their name, specializing in exactly that from one riff to the next. If Mille Petrozza and company aren’t going to listen to the mighty Desolus and take notes, the least they can do is give Total Annihilation a listen and learn how to craft a modern death/thrash album that’s good as opposed to “not as bad”.
6 out of 10
Label: Testimony Records
Genre: Death/Thrash Metal
For fans of: Kreator, Sodom, Vader