Spain’s leading Thrash Metal band Angelus Apatrida returns with their seventh self-titled album which again proves why Spain has some of the best thrash metal going around. Their latest work continues the path of providing some good old fashioned thrash metal wrapped in tasty riffs and grooves which showed us this might be some of their best work yet.
Kicking off with ” Indoctrinate“, the band start off strong and waste no time in getting to business. It’s a real thrasher to introduce the album and while a breakdown halfway gives us some slower tempos, it’s primarily a faster paced track through and through. “Bleed The Crown” follows and was the first teaser for the album when announced last year, while fighting off the pandemic. There’s a hell of a lot more groove on this one and really shines a light on some of the less thrashy aspects of the band that they actually do so well.
“The Age Of Disinformation” is a provocative look at today’s divided world where the truth lies somewhere between the arguing and deceit. The music itself is quite fitting too and captures the anxiety riddled world of political battles and a loss of understanding common sense within it’s intensified energy. “Rise Or Fall” is an uplifting track with an aggressive nature, the foot stomping groove yet another winner here.
“Childhood’s End” continues the now emerging pattern of switching from all out fast thrasher to more pallatable headbangers from track to track, this one is frenetic and winds up brilliantly as another highlight on the album. “Disposable Liberty” brings it back a bit while “We Stand Alone” goes a little old school giving us a bit of a Motorhead meets Overkill vibe. There’s a nice modern touch to it all however especially with a wicked breakdown about a third of the way in.
“Through The Glass” is one of the more adventurous tracks here with some dazzling musicianship on display and a real musical feast for the ears. “Empire Of Shame” brings a little old school flavor to the table but still sounding fresh while “Into The Well” brings thing to a close with an unrelenting thrasher that twists and turns at every corner and even throwing in a bit of an industrial feel in brief but subtle passages.
Angelus Apatrida have yet another real winner on their hands here with this latest work which is really going to cement this band as a worthy contender for kings of modern thrash metal.
9/10
TRACKLIST
Indoctrinate
Bleed The Crown
The Age Of Disinformation
Rise Or Fall
Childhood’s End
Disposable Liberty
We Stand Alone
Through The Glass
Empire Of Shame
Into The Well
