Angry Metal Guy

Trident // World Destruction
Rating: 2.5/5.0 — OK, but not special
Label: Regain Records
Websites: trident666.com | myspace.com/tridentofficial
Release Dates: EU: 22.03.2010 | US: 04.06.2010 [?]

An outgrowth of the ideas of a former Dissection guitarist (Johan Norman) and a couple of members of the band Necrophobic, Trident hits the stores on the 22nd of March throughout Europe and hits a totally virgin audience. These guys pretty much came out of nowhere—having basically played locally in Sweden and apparently they circulated a demo or something that got them picked up by Regain. Formed in 2007, Trident is a blackened death band in the veins of the aforementioned bands and is yet another Swedish assault on Christendom and the senses that will surely inflame passion in some corners.

World Destruction is not a revolutionary record that is going to make you want to drop everything and jump on the new wave of Swedish blackened death or anything. It is that good blend of black metal and Swedish death metal that bands like Necrophobic and Dissection have done extraordinarily well over the years. The vocals are raw and evil, high in range and they match the blast beat laden rhythm section well. The guitar work is well done, fast, sweepy with lots of trem picking and staccato riffing and it’s pretty much par for the course. However, the dynamic nature of the record is pretty much fast, faster and fastest. There are very few slow parts, but when they do come up they are more than welcome—interrupting what, at times, can start to lose its extremity because of its uniformity.

Let’s cut right to the core of this record, though: you have totally heard this before and you’ve heard it done way better. While there are standout tracks (particularly toward the end of the record), World Destruction is not a standout record. The riffs are good, the players are excellent and the production is solid. But often times the guitar melodies are weak, the song structures are standard and there are only a few moments that break away from this monotony. Which is sad, because there are excellent ideas on World Destruction. But instead of being executed well and offset by something a little bit more unique or technical, it pretty much just feels like run of the mill blackened  death metal.

Fans of the aforementioned bands and the Swedish black metal scene will probably find things they like on World Destruction. Particularly the tracks “Stockholm Bloodbath”, “Slaves to Anguish” are strong and the title track “World Destruction” is a total fucking scorcher, with amazing riffs, vocal performance and feel. But sadly enough, World Destruction, unlike its title track, is largely unmemorable and uninteresting. We know what the guys in this band are capable of, and therefore look hopefully to future releases—but this isn’t going to replace any of your Dissection or Necrophobic records in your playlists.

Impious // Death Domination
Rating: 3.5/5.0 – Very good!
Label: Metal Blade
Release Date(s): Out Now Worldwide!
Website: myspace.com/impiousofficial

Impious is one of many elite death/thrash bands to come out of Sweden during the mid-late 90s and they are still ripping it up in full force in 2009. As pretty much one of the last records of the year, this is probably going to be overlooked on the grand scheme of thing, but I think this album deserves a serious examination.

Death Domination, as I have said of many records before, is nothing you haven’t heard before. Swedish-style death metal, fast and pretty melodic, but brutal enough that it puts a lot of the Gothenburg bands to shame. This isn’t Swedish death metal like In Flames, but instead like Demiurg or Hypocrisy. And the record is a blinder. Clocking in at about 36 minutes long, it’s also reminiscent of the new Vader record, which was also a highlight this year.

And really, there are some stand-out tracks on here. “And the Empire Shall Fall” exhibits a band that is keenly aware of composition and building, as well as heavy riffing, while “Legions” rocks out Nile at its own game with a killer primary theme that sounds pretty Egyptian. Actually, “Legions” is probably my favorite track on the album and definitely shows smart, old school composition style with a strong theme and a catchy chorus (something that few death metal bands ever do with any skill). “Legions” is followed by another outstanding track (“As Death Lives in Me”) and finally, when the album reaches its final track (“Irreligious State of War”), you’re not ready for this album to end.

Death Domination has a lot of strengths. The riffing is tight and brutal, the drums sound real and are well-produced with a good bassy sound (no obvious triggers). The record is littered with awesome groove and a great vocal performance. And actually, the opposite of the new Vader, I was actually really pleased with the guitar soloing on here. What there was for guitar soloing was solid, melodic and well-composed. This is a band that despite its long tenure isn’t losing much pace.

Another fine addition to the legacy of Swedish death, Death Domination is worth your time and money.