ALBUM REVIEW: Deathwards – Realms of Sin

Chile has one of the finest death metal (and overall metal) scenes on the planet. Following their 2018 and 2019 demos, Deathwards present their debut album of total macabre savagery. Out via Sepulchral Voice Records on the 30th of October.

Ominous riffs savagely erupt with thrashing mania alongside an onslaught of bestial vocals and hammering drums. Everything is tied together by these cinematic and dark synths which do not detract from the rabid intensity of the record, rather adding even more menace to the overall mix. Primitive but tight, the vicious nature of Deathwards’ approach is executed in the true and classic manner while definitely putting their own personality across to give an original and unique flair to things. From the progressive and off-kilter bass lines to the intriguing structures, this is more than just an old-school death metal record, this is a record that dares to be different. The washed-out reverb on the solos has a really cool atmosphere that beautifully contrasts the death-thrashing nightmare at hand while some lethal tom fills kick us back into the groove. With the vocals belligerently snarling to the instrumental cacophony of hellish torment, this is very 80s sounding but in a way that hasn’t been done to death. “Realms of Sin” is off to a blasphemously strong start.

There is a crushing mix of classic sounds such as Canada’s Infernal Majesty, American titans like Dark Angel and South American masters Vulcano mixed with this overall Voivod-ian oddness that I find to be balanced in a way that I have not heard before. Not to say they stray far from classic death/thrash, they just do it with a bit of originality. The production is unforgiving, giving that rusted sawtooth attack that a record like this needs. I really love it when a band has those cool tom fills (think classic Necrodeath) which sort of tip you from one onslaught into the next. Deathwards have mastered this ancient morbid approach where the devil is in the details. Blending these classic approaches with some violent blackened madness, dissonance and chaos, there is no denying this is a chaotic record but in a way that feels extremely well thought out. The amount of interesting dynamics and cool touches is truly impressive. Let’s keep dwelling in the realms of sin…

Alongside their insane and unforgiving approach to extreme music, there is an anthemic quality to some of these songs which you cannot resist pounding your fist to. This perfectly balances with the unhinged moments of mania throughout that will have you in awe at how such beastly and inhuman sounds can be forged into metallic artillery. The experimental touches are used just enough to set Deathwards apart from the crowd without alienating you from the otherwise very classic approach. It’s rare to hear a band pull off being traditional and ground-breaking but I think the concoction we are hearing here walks the line very nicely. Staying fierce throughout, you will not be disappointed at the visceral array of tracks Deathwards have on offer here. A truly impressive and remarkable full-length debut that I expect will stand the test of time and be found in many underground maniacs’ record collections. Not for the false, timid or weak!

If you adore that short but volatile period of the 80s when death and thrash metal collided to give us a ton of unique and timeless records than remain essential today, Deathwards certainly capture the spirit of those times but in their own refreshing and sinister manner. Estranged, violent, dark, barbaric. “Realms of Sin” is an unwieldy cut of wild and morbid metal that will certainly appeal to the die-hard traditionalists who preferred the times when metal was not bound by modern standards and impositions of futile micro-genres. This is simply a strong and ripping album that speaks for itself and stands on its own feet. Listen, support, or be destroyed by the tormentors!