June 25, 2009 | | 4

Necrophobic, Death to All

Necrophobic: Death to All

For all that is unholy, Necrophobic know how to celebrate a 20th anniversary — hint, it includes plenty of Satanic fun for the whole family. You would think that after two decades of decimating the Earth’s population on a consistent basis, these Swedish legends would get tired of repeatedly desecrating the cross and sacrificing virgins, but you’d be wrong.

Death to All is a return to form of sorts for the band. The atmospheric elements that they explored extensively in their last helping of hatred, Hrimthursum, are used to a much lesser degree, only making appearances when it seems fitting. Throughout the eight tracks on this album, you’ll be hit with flesh searing riffage, thundering drum blasts and vocals that will have you bowing to the dark lord, adorned in your favorite hooded robe. This disc hits like a 1000 demons invading your frail form from every orifice.

Celebration Of The Goat
Necrophobic get things off to a fiendish start with this classic black metal blast of hatred and evil. A huge scream lets loose the dogs of hell in the form of maniacal drums and sick riffing. Even through the veil of vehemence there’s an underlying melody to the music that really makes this track something special. The vocals are raw, aggressive and mid-range guttural allowing them to seep into your very being. The layered vocal atmospherics only add to the already menacing feel of the song. The lead at 3:20 is pretty damned nice.

Revelation 666
The title of this one sounds like a song titleSlipknot would pen, but thankfully this sounds nothing like the Iowa group. Necrophobic go all out with this one — driving riffs, rapid fire vocals, blasting rhythms and a catchy as hell chorus. This one never slows until it’s over, leaving you breathless and completely stoked. I love the guitar work at 1:45 mixed with the thundering drums — it’s perfect head banging mayhem. The guitar work starting at the five minute mark is amazing and lasts well over a minute to end the track.

La Santisima Muerte
A sick bit of riffing that’ll leave you with nightmares gets “La Santisima Muerte” along with a demonic scream. The drums on this one are like the beating hooves of Satan’s minions romping through heaven. This song is pure blackened mayhem as only Necrophobic can deliver it. Holy hell!

For Those Who Stayed Satanic
I love the title of this song, but not as much as the classic bit of riffing that opens it up. The operatic backing vocals are a nice touch and give this one a creepy feel as the main vocals come in. For as unrelenting as the pace seems, there are actually some very subtle tempo shifts that will keep you on your hooves, I mean toes. This is a monster track that needs to be played loudly for all to hear.

Temple Of Damnation
“Temple of Damnation” starts off with a relatively standard melodic black metal riff and pummeling drum work for the opening moments, but that quickly changes with a nice shift in the guitars as the vocals come in. This is song is like blackened speed metal — even with the cheese ball operatic moaning in the background. There’s a nice slow down for a breather just before the three minute mark as the group builds back up to a Luciferian frenzy. The lead after 4:00 is just ridiculously awesome!

The Tower
I love the opening guitar work. It’s both memorable and evil as fuck — especially with the sick growl that follows. If black metal can have a groove, this song certainly has it. It’s fast, furious and, yet infectiously catchy in all it’s blood boiling hatred for all things civil. The vocals seem to have a bit more ferocity to them that’s slightly frightening. The lead at 2:30 is technical and soaring. Man, this song ends with a hellish flurry of activity.

Wings Of Death
“Wings of Death” starts off slowly with light guitar and ambient noise that lasts till just before the :30 mark when a sick bit of riffing comes in. The mid-tempo beginning portion of this song is freakin’ great — evil yet melodic and filled with more infectious grooves. There are some nice Slayer-like guitars punctuating the din of black metal darkness here and there throughout the song. It’s not quite as ferocious or aggressive as the previous tracks, but it’s more dramatic feel more than makes up for it.

Death To All
After a bit of a slower start, the album’s title track final explodes from the depths of Hell just after the one minute mark with blasting drums, raging vocals and driving guitars. This track is unrelenting and evil beyond a shadow of a doubt. If this one doesn’t make you want to smear corpse paint all over your self and create some mayhem in suburbia, I don’t think anything will. Weighing in at just under nine minutes in length, “Death to All” has catchy hooks, solid groove and thundering rhythms. Necrophobic certainly saved their best for last.

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Favorite Tracks:
All of them

Additional Notes:
N/A