Desaster - 666 – Satan's Soldiers Syndicate Posted by Dan Haggerty on 04.16.2008
Germany’s Desaster gives us their sixth studio album and offers up some unholy thrash in the tradition of Destroyer and Venom; be afraid, be very afraid…
Germany’s Desaster started as two friends in 1988, but quickly formed through their demos into a four piece unit by 1992. Eventually scoring a label deal by work, demo, and a split release, the band issued their debut A Touch Of Medieval Darkness finally in 1996. Hellfire's Dominion and Tyrants of the Netherworld would follow, and through touring and participating in compilations and splits would increase there fan base. Their fourth studio release, Divine Blasphemies saw the departure of the current vocalist, and with the addition of Guido Wissmann (Sataniac) the bands current line up was complete.
Despite critical praise in the underground a major label deal would finally be reached in 2005 via Metal Blade Records. This would lead to the release of the bands fifth full length Angelwhore, and a full international tour followed.
666 – Satan's Soldiers Syndicate is the bands sixth studio album.
1. Intro 01:22
2. Satan's Soldiers Syndicate 04:04
3. Angel Extermination 03:30
4. Razor Ritual 03:50
5. Hellbangers 03:16
6. Fate Forever Flesh 04:46
7. Vile We Dwell 03:53
8. Tyrannizer 05:34
9. Venomous Stench 02:43
10. More Corpses For The Grave 04:27
Collectors Information
Also released on black vinyl and picture disc.
The Review
Blackened thrash? Thrashy black metal? The intricate continuous noise of black combines with riff assault of thrash, the cold empty plains delivered on the back of tracer bullets, a vacuum of forgotten space shoved down your throat. Man, this is the kind of metal that appeals to the elitists and fringe hardcore fanatics, simply through its no compromise adherence to the strict definition of both. Think Destruction covering Venom and you’ll be fairly close.
The screech of Sataniac (real name Guido Wissmann – You have to love the stage names), who croaks acid with every cursed word, combined with the continuous rush of the axes makes this a decidedly black metal experience. But the riff axe work chops and minces through classical thrash, spirit and crunch, sometimes heavy on speed or the bottom end to define the thrash engine running the machine. It’s the chill of metal extremes in full force, riding the explosion of thrash riffs that takes the frozen plains and sends the fresh broken shards to rip through you like buckshot. This might be empty vaults of black metal, but the backbone is decidedly thrash, a powerful heartbeat that gives this undead life form its life. The sort of precision that takes out everything, on the off chance you missed the point. The melding of beauty you’d never notice thanks to the distant and even uncaring attitude, the production leaving gulfs of emptiness between you and a band hell bent on destroying their surroundings whether you show up or not. You have to admire the determination all around. Uncaring passion and spirited despair are ends not well put together.
Simply put, this is not for the casual fan. This is standoffish and frigid, caustic and uncaring, flesh rending for the sake of ripping. In the frozen north, no one cares if you bang your head or not. It also leaves little room for the music to breathe and flow beyond its form, something a few strokes with would have added the kind of legs to walk this into higher terrain. Although their is a certain charm to the single minded dedication to this vision.
That aside, what Destroyer does, they do well. Their forgotten realms of frozen fire and high velocity ice a pleasant reminder of the edges of metal most casual fans pretend don’t exist. But it is there, unholy and driven onto night, but there and laughing at conventions. The honesty in its dedication to the edges of reality is refreshing and a reminder the underground is alive and well. “Razors Ritual” just rips with pure thrash riff work and “Angel Exterminates” crunches with the best of the thrash classics, daring you to not pound your head along. The title track flows over an axe work backbone while awash in howls of corpse paint and embalming fluid, while “Venomous Stench” just throttles like the purpose of the race was to get to the finish yesterday. “Fate Forever Flesh” brings back the blackened riff work while maintaining that sense of purpose, guitars ripping again on the lower end, as does “Tyrannizer” with gorgeous layered riff work. I dare you to not nod your head along to the pulse, vocals of damnation be damned. And incase you still miss the point, “More Corpses For the Grave” ends the attack with the sound of despairing and rattling wind, all the world sounding like the frozen tundra blowing over an open grave.
Destroyer might be single minded in their unholy dedication to the extremes of metal, but they absolutely kick you in the gut and throw you down that path with no excuses and no remorse; both extremes layering textures and depth to the other, with less being more when mixed together. The few of you who don’t pull away from this onslaught of evil images will find some damn(ed) enjoyable metal staring back. I’ll let you decide if that is a good thing or not.
The 411: Caustic, acidic, and decidedly not safe, this chilly creature beats with a thrash pulse that puts fire in the beast. Extreme and inaccessible, this will only appeal to the most hard-line of metal fans, but those that walk in those soundscapes will find a scorching force of percussive attack and excellent riff work. Thrash that rips even if the vocals scar, and well worth the occasional visit to stare this beast down and enjoy its dark rhythms.
