Suicidal Angels - "Sanctify The Darkness"
January 12, 2010
Producer: R.D Liapakis
It always brings a smile to my face when I hear band nail the exact sound they are looking for. You may ask how can I know this without knowing the band personally? Well, the answer isn't exactly the easiest thing to explain, but what it comes down to is basically this: you can truly feel the record in your bones, rather than just your ears. It is the subliminal confidence the band gives off with each track, showing they are truly one unit that isn't second guessing what they want to play, and how they know the exact direction they want their music to take, stopping at nothing until they get exactly what they want. Greek Thrash Metal quartet, Suicidal Angels did exactly that with their second studio offering: 2010's "Sanctify The Darkness."
This is the first up and coming Thrash band to grab my attention in quite some time. In my opinion, Suicidal Angels is going to be the next 'big deal' in the thrash music world and the Suicidal Angels are nothing short of a well-oiled machine. They have a classic, old-school thrash sound that every fan of the genre will immediately identify with. Every track on the record contains no shortage of razor-sharp riffs with insane tempo-changes that will keep your head grooving through its entire thirty-eight minutes. What I love most about this group though, is that they remind of three bands that I love dearly, all rolled into one.
The production of the record is a bit more polished and clean with a somewhat stronger sense of melody, which compares to more recent Kreator releases. You can hear this in tracks such as: "Bloodthirsty" and my personal favorite cut off the album, "Apokathilosis." The extremely high-velocity chugging riffs, laced over with strong Anti-Christian lyrical themes is a very strong nod to Slayer tunes such as: "The Pestilence of Saints," "Atheist," and "Beyond The Laws of Church," showcase this rather well. Finally, the very rapid-fire raspy vocal performance on the entire album personally reminds me of Angelripper, who is the front-man of
legendary German Thrash-act, Sodom.
In my eyes, Suicidal Angels are an extremely promising group on the rise. The only 'complaint' I have ever heard about their music is the fact that some tend to think the band is 'too in control' of themselves. In other words, some believe the band is not playing at the very brink of their own abilities, therefore causing some to think Suicidal Angels might not not be giving us everything they have. I do not see this as an issue because of what I previously said at the start of this review. To sum it up, this record basically reeks of confidence and absolution. This collection of music is exactly the way Suicidal Angels intended for you to hear their sound, and I doubt they wouldn't settle for anything less.
I personally think that a few years down the road, after Suicidal Angels adds more records to their discography, people will look back and realize that "Sanctify The Darkness" was the album where this band really came into their own. This compilation of music will become the record that aspiring thrash metal bands of the future will listen to, realizing that is the: sound, atmosphere, and attitude they want to capture.
My Killer Kutz: "Apokathilosis," "The Pestilence of Saints" and "Atheist."
