ALBUM REVIEW: Hellbutcher – Hellbutcher

From the ashes of Swedish Black / Thrash Metal royalty Nifelheim rises Hellbutcher! Their debut album further fortifying the stoic approach to old school metallic might and its uncompromising foundations. Out via Metal Blade Records on May 31st. Having already reviewed this record in Fistful Of Metal magazine, I knew I was in for a treat already…

Opening with their lead single “The Sword Of Wrath” with their adoration for Iron Maiden worn proudly on their sleeves, Hellbutcher carve the blackened Heavy Metal path on which they plan to stride forward with utmost clarity. The savage drumming and razor-like riffing are met with booming low end and Hellbutcher’s signature demonic shrieks. Instantly the evil spirit of true underground malice comes to life, firing on all cylinders with metallic hellfire and rage. Although raw, unpolished and ravenously aggressive, there is a huge sense of melody and superb mixing that allows every element of this bonafide sonic scything to be thoroughly felt. The songwriting here feels refined and resplendent while not sacrificing any of the blasphemous archaic spirit or primal delivery. The start of Hellbutcher’s eponymous debut album strikes hard and without mercy, guaranteeing you know what they came to do… Kill with power!

Aside from the insanely ripping guitar work, the huge booming drums and endless waves of tom rolls make this feel more like an 80s Speed Metal masterpiece in some respects while keeping that Black Metal flame burning black and bold. This balance ensures an exciting, energetic listen that keeps you rabid to hear whatever mayhem is going to be reigning flames of ungodliness next. Having developed such an adrenaline-pumping album while having a superb sense of atmosphere is a magnificent feat that has been achieved to grandiose effect. Everything feels like it’s cranked to eleven and no corners were cut. Feeling more like the kind of thing I should be discovering from Slayer Mag than an electronic press kit, their brand of violent destruction is loud ‘n’ proud with the old school spirit and no regard for modern whims and trends; something I believe is essential for the survival of true Metal.

Sweden has a blisteringly bright history of Heavy Metal, from the likes of Heavy Load to Bathory, Dissection and Nihilist. Honouring this past with equal material is never going to be an easy feat, but thankfully the 21st century has acts like Hellbutcher to do so. Utilising the countries seemingly natural abilities to craft memorable and original songs, these maniacs fare equally well with their debut album that remains a ruthless listen until its dying breaths, at which point you yearn to hear it again. No single moment feels wasted, every bit pumping more metallic blood through your veins from start to end, again and again. Only viciousness and triumph remains on this cut of cult splendour. Their animalistic howls of hades shriek from the depths with every bar of anvil-striking drums, malignant bass, electrifying guitars or abyssal vocals. Cohesive doesn’t even cover it, this is a truly organic formation and creation a sadistically superb execution that is nigh-impossible to flaw.

An unwieldy debut album of mighty Black-Thrashing Heavy Metal supremacy. All of the evil, malice and grimness of underground history is here in abundance while the band proudly march ever onwards with their own identity. Majestic unholy slaughtering at its finest from a band who rekindle what the genre should always have been. Few do so like this. Hellbutcher serves as a reminder Heavy Metal never dies, even in a world where many things have tried to shackle it, the chains will shatter under real pressure and stoic glory.