Record Label - Unsigned
Line Up:
Matt Coyle - Guitars
Tom Quach - Bass
Jason Barron - Vocals
Clayton Gore - Drums
Track Listing:
1.Into The Hailstorms Of Revelations
2.Beneath The Rubble
3.Firechrist
4.Heksenbränd
5.Destined To Conquer
6.Dogs Of Lucifer
7.Three Stars Of Fire
8.Devil's Rain
9.Last Man Alive (Whiplash Cover)(Hidden Track)
Harkonin began with the idea of bringing a different style of Black Metal to their impoverished St. Louis, Missouri metal scene. Harkonin have managed to create something great here a blend of Thrash/Black Metal it makes for a very unique and interesting concept and a non-boring album. I have seen a lot of great new stuff coming out of the Missouri area and this another great effort from there neck of the grim forest (cheesy black metal joke). There is a lot of Thrash influence more over the Black Metal aspect, but the vocalist and drums hit that that aspect perfectly to not disappoint the Black Metal fan.
The cd starts you off with an intro entering you into the battle of which these dudes have in stored for your listening pleasure. From start to finish the sound quality is excellent and very well done for an independent album. Yes that's right kids black Metal doesn't always have to sound like shit to be evil or grim this is a great album without that bullshit clichés so many bands think they have to follow to be cool. The drumming and vocals are great example of Black Metal at its best fast evil blast beats and to the point of the song. The vocals are surprisingly clear and catchy that mesh really well with the songs, you can hear all the lyrics thank you. The bass and guitar work show the Thrash side of this band blending these together is not small feet the timing and placement of leads and riff changes are really well done. To maybe best describe there sound is something hard to say since the go back and forth so much in the songs but to me it sounds a little like if you had Immortal, Agathodaimon, Coroner and Whiplash playing together within one band you would get maybe a Harkonin like sound. The tracks that really sold me on this band and got me off my ass and doing my personal mosh which not many have witnessed are "Heksenbränd" "Firechrist" and "Destined To Conquer" all has catchy melody and killer leads and riffs threw out. The final track is a fucking killer cover of "Whiplash - Last Man Alive" they make this song there own very well played and kind of puts Whiplash to shame with there sound, I'm glad they put this on here it really shows there range of ability.
Over all this cd is has killer production and sounds are awesome. If your looking for a blend of styles and an interesting sound check this band out they will not disappoint you. I can't wait to hear what they guys come up with next album release. I would like to see more solos thrown in on the tracks but it might mess up what there trying to achieve with the mix of Thrash/Black Metal, so for now it's excellent for what they pulled off.
9.5/10
-Ed
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