ALBUM REVIEW: Desaster – Churches Without Saints

Teutonic Black-Thrash Metal horde DESASTER are back with their 9th full length album. Out via Metal Blade Records on June 4th.

A short introduction begins our journey with a sombre passage, with a feeling like a long return from battle is imminent. Hopefully this proves prolific of the onslaught ahead. Savage riffs instantly kick us right into a pounding assault with fierce drums that together bring that old school Heavy Metal-tinged extremity to the forefront as the maniacally charged vocals snarl blasphemies atop the instrumental violence. Desaster are one of those bands who always make a record feel like they never left, always grabbing you by the throat with their bold musical carnage. Melodies weave in and out of the blasting inferno of rhythmic butchering with those melancholy blackened touches giving a touch of contrast to the otherwise total ferocity that is the core of their sound. Of course the songs are as anthemic and memorable as usual with those traditional Heavy / Thrash Metal elements adding so much character and primal charm to the Extreme Metal mayhem, something this band has built a career balancing gloriously. It is abundantly clear from the opening tracks that Desaster are back with a vengeance to follow “The Oath Of An Iron Ritual” with something just as formidable.

Continuing the uphold the vicious momentum of the record, “Exile Is Imminent” offers a brief respite with the opening melodic work before gloomy blackened riffs open a chasm of darkness, following from the more upbeat likes of “Failing Trinity”, this song immediately takes us back to the bands early days, while fitting seamlessly with the thrashing antics it sits between. These kind of dynamic contrasts are incredibly rewarding as we get the best of both atmospherics and in-your-face thrash insanity, dancing the blade of Extreme Metal with an all-encompassing might that few can offer so triumphantly. Daunting instrumentals power forward with varied and exhilarating vocal work, showcasing an untamed passion from the whole band whose feral desire to make Heavy Metal is impossible to extinguish, something we are all grateful for as they deliver true hellish masterpieces without faltering. There is an undeniably brooding quality to this album that has a similar flavour to “Hellfire’s Dominion” but with the bands current talents shining through the darkness of this ancient and marvellous tome, giving us an old-meets-new feel in more ways than one.

As we forge towards the latter moments of this grandiose record, there is no holding back, delivering pure ferocity and glory until the bitter end. From the more fun and old school torments of “Hellputa” through to the more emotionally complex and mind-entangling yet totally anthemic “Endless Awakening” with “Primordial Obscurity” betwixt the two, offering something more akin to Icelandic Black Metal, Desaster have no shortage of direction or killer ideas that always seem to culminate in some ripping piece of excellence that stands out wonderfully then reaches true magnificence in the context of the whole album which comes together with remorseless focus. The solos on this record are one thing I have yet to mention, perhaps due to their reduced frequency, they have taken a less regular route and utilised much fewer shredding passages. This means when we see the soaring fret-work come to the foreground it stands out as a great moment, due to the opting for quality over quantity and allowing rhythmic battery to remain the main focus. As a lead guitarist, I always love fantastic guitar solos, but the way they held back a bit to then let the bull charge out of the gate with untamed force suits the album perfectly. With a clear yet old school production to present this latest offering, everything seems to be in place for another timeless cut of top-tier Black-Thrash Metal mastery from this titanic force.

Desaster return triumphant with another offering of Black-Thrash violence that dominates all in its pathway. Few bands are as consistently reliable as this Teuton horde, but once more we see proof of greatness and why they are considered legends of their style with the likes of Nifelheim who will never be dethroned. Totally epic in atmosphere with a yearning aggression, fuelled by the flame of Heavy Metal passion that has stood the test of time and conquered once more.