ALBUM REVIEW: Deströyer 666 – Never Surrender

Australian Black-Thrash-Heavy Metal outlaws DESTRÖYER 666 are back. Their previous full-length “Wildfire” is one of my favourite albums of all time, so will its follow-up live up to this standard? Let’s find out! “Never Surrender” is out via Season Of Mist on December 2nd.

Soaring in on melodic riffing “Never Surrender” opens with its title track in a glorious bout of true Heavy Metal triumph. The vocals have a similar feel to on “Wildfire” which are totally killer while the savage riffs and blaring leads ride on crashing waves of ferocious drumming. Packing some classic grooves and bombastic tom fills into scathing Extreme Metal to give it that fantastically 80s edge and classic feeling is something Deströyer 666 have done excellently for their last couple albums after their more bestial roots in a more typical Black Metal sound. The sense of melody is developing gorgeously, though this album starts with quite a different, even cheerful, tone compared to its bitterly aggressive predecessor. Maybe more in line with the feeling of “Defiance”. “Andraste” and “Guillotine” have both been streamed in advance of release, the first much more in that enthralling “Wildfire” vein with the second taking more of a pub-chant anthem approach which reminds me of the seminal song “Angel Witch”. These opening moments are ones of glory and magnificence that hopefully set the tone of what lies ahead. On a side note, the b-side of the “Guillotine” 7-inch entitled “Death In Berlin” is one of the most furious Deströyer 666 songs to date and definitely warrants buying the 45 as well.

Both on the records and on stage, there is something magical about how this mob harnesses the ancient Heavy Metal energy while soldiering forth into extremity and never looking too far back to forget the present. Felipe’s bass tone on this record is absolutely crushing with some nice NWOBHM gallops coming in here and there with Kev’s monstrous drumming remaining consistently varied throughout the record. The tasteful mix of blasting ferocity and anthemic rolls lends further into the ancient glory present here while band-leader KK Warslut delivers majestic riffing, soaring leads and splendidly mixed vocals throughout. The “Lone Wolf Winter” styled punches occur here and there which definitely renders many of these songs fitting to crush audiences live as well as on the LP, something I think that is essential for a band like this to fulfil their potential. Whereas “Pitch Black Night” has a more typical Black Metal feeling akin to their first record, “Mirror’s Edge” and “Grave Raiders” utilise a far more traditional Heavy Metal execution. It must be said that the omnipresent Javi delivered these barrages of death gloriously with a piercingly killer mix.

Playing powerfully with sonorous vocals to deliver their narrative, there is something spellbinding about the way each of these songs has been recorded. The mix feels percussive yet doesn’t drown out the razor-sharp guitar work while the vocals hit hard on every line. The final trio of songs consists of “Savage Rights”, “Rather Death” and “Batavia’s Graveyard” have an appropriated bloodies and mutinous sound. There is a certain feeling of rage and intensity being ramped up that is animalistic and frenzied yet shows points of refinement that take no prisoners. Menacing until the last, this album has been full of adrenaline and definitely marks another triumph for the Australian Anti-Christ and his company of outlaws. Although I think one of their crowning finales will always be “Tamam Shud”, which remains one of my favourite Metal songs ever, there is still such a drawn out epic closing this record. In this instance the melancholy opening riff is a real sombre start, yet soon erupts into a more battle-weary, almost folkish closer. Do not be fearful, this is a metallic odyssey and such a balladic side to the band gives them a great closing dynamic that works well to the narrative yet despite (or maybe thanks to) its emotional touch this song stills rocks with a resemblance to certain Manowar material. It’s definitely an ending that makes you want to flip the record and put it on again, something that has become another trademark of these titans. So yeah, go do that!

Another masterful cut of Satanic Speed Metal magic from Deströyer 666 who remain flag-bearers of the old vanguard with more than simple nostalgia under their belts. If you like Heavy, Thrash, Speed and Black Metal that blisters the skin and pulverises bones with simply effective and memorable songs delivered with a sadistic edge, there is nothing but glory to be found here. “Never Surrender” is another fiery call to arms for all die-hard maniacs to crank up to eleven.