DEATHCHAIN „Deaththrash Assault”

Country: Finland
Music: Death Metal/Thrash
Website: www.deathchain.com
Duration: 39:06
Cool Songs: Deathrash Legions, Lepra Lord, Graveyard Witchery

“Deaththrash Assault” is a most fitting album title for bullet-belted metallers, DeathChain because these Fins play a hybrid style of death metal and thrash akin to Swedish bands like THE CROWN, DEFLEASHED, SWORDMASTER, and WITCHERY. Upon first listen, it is easy to assume this group is from Sweden. Finland is not known for producing acts of this style. Actually, “Deaththrash Assault” is a much-needed album for a country gradually becoming overrun with whiny goth metal clones. Past tours with TESTAMENT and MALEVOLENT CREATION and future tours with DESTRUCTION and CANDLEMASS prove that their label, Dynamic Arts Records also feels like they’re something special.

DEATHCHAIN makes their deep horror movie fascination apparent through using campy stage names like vocalist-Rotten and guitarists-Corpse and Bobby Undertaker, and writing an entire album of macabre tales. Much like WITCHERY, DEATHCHAIN scribes tales of the dead or the supposed to be dead on titles like “Graveyard Witchery”, “Deaththrash Legions”, and “Valley of the Corpses.” Although the demonic vocal effects are slightly cheesy, like their neighbor to the south—KING DIAMOND, these vocals are appropriate to create dramatic effect. The black-and-white sketched drawings also are a suitable visual representation of each creature feature song.

Lyrics, song titles, and booklet are only fleshy scraps, though; the main cadaverous feast lies in the ravenous music they create. The Undertaker and Corpse (choice names to be pitted side-by-side) command legions of maniacal headbangers through hellish speed chugging and classic thrash rhythms in the vein of SLAYER and METALLICA. The chord progressions on “Lepra Lord” recall both the above-mentioned titans. The transition parts from verse to verse roll along in a churning Slayer fashion, while the verse chords alternate between palm-mute riffing and open string fret work that any metal fan should recognize as being inspired by METALLICA’s “Kill Them All.” The next track, “Graveyard Witchery” has a definite Swedish influence, most notably THE CROWN. The busily fretwork, rapid drum blasts, make this one of the album’s standout tracks.

Even though it is not exactly worded as the title, “Deaththrash Legions” is the album’s unofficial title track. The chorus of “Deaththrash Legions” is sure to get the DESTRUCTION fans pumping their fists and banging their heads on this massive tour in the fall. Fans who know the song's lyrics and their meaning will get an even greater delight out of chanting the words. Each line pays homage to metal’s mighty. The second verse is a great example saying, “Don’t break the oath, the oath of black blood/Just come to the Sabbath, bloody Sabbath/We’ll kill them all and show no mercy/Welcome to Hell.” It shouldn’t be too hard to figure out which albums they’re screaming about.

“Deaththrash Assault” is a solid ear-full of thrashy blackened death metal. Is it a milestone album for this genre? Probably not. While this album has much to offer, especially fans of this type of music, it’s not the be all to end all. If you are just getting into deaththrash, you should first pick up classic albums like WITCHERY’s “Restless and Dead”, THE CROWN’s “Deathrace King”, and DEFLESHED’s “Fast Forward.” For fans that have the majority of the material created by such bands, “Deaththrash Assault” will make a good addition to their collection.

note: 6/10

Tracklist

1. Return of the Nemesis
2. Venom Preacher
3. Lepra Lord
4. Graveyard Witchery
5. Deathrash Legions
6. Napalm Satan
7. Panzer Holocaust
8. Morbid Mayhem
9. Valley of the Corpses

Line-up

Rotten – Vocals
Corpse – Guitar
Bobby Undertaker – Guitar
Kuolio – Bass
Kassara – Drums