TENET „Sovereign”

TENET „Sovereign” - okładka
Genre: Death/Thrash Metal
Country: USA
Band Website: www.myspace.com/tenetforce
Duration: 30:14
Killer Songs: “Hail Hail,” “Unnamable,” “Sovereign”



The odd bit of trivia about Tenet is they formed back in 1996 but never got off the ground due to conflicting schedules and near-zero commitment, besides all the members being busy with Strapping Young Lad at the time. With Strapping out of commission for some years now, founder Glen Avelais has finally brought his side project to life and what an awesome resuscitation it is, considering the talent who fill Tenet’s ranks. For starters, there’s Steve “Zetro” Souza of Exodus fame fronting the band, followed by Strapping Young Lad alumni Jed Simon on guitars and percussionist extraordinaire Gene Hoglan–don’t forget groove commando Byron Stroud!

So is Tenet the equivalent of Strapping Young Lad plus Exodus? Kinda. Its main features are generous helpings of thrash metal attitude and death metal decibels. To cut the descriptions short, go right ahead with opener “Being And Nothingness” which zips by in a flurry of riffs, screams, and surgically executed drums. Extreme connoisseurs are gonna love it, especially the crystal clear production that does a wonderful job in emphasizing the glut of twin-guitar play dominating this album. The riffs here come thicker than a side of greasy spare ribs and when they segue into the obligatory solos, it’s sheer magic.

“Indulge Me” brings home the bone-breaking crunch the same way as its predecessor, and it isn’t until the mid tempo chugs at “Going Down” that the album’s thrash-tastic dimensions ease a bit. At their ugliest, Tenet creams inside the listener’s ears with relentless numbers bristling with hooks, riffs, slam, high energy, and bare bones aggression. Among the nine sonic cocktails at hand, the best of the best are “Crown of Thorns,” “Unnameable,” and the thrash anthem “Take A Long Line” that’s gang style vocals galore.

No frills heavy metal swirls in the mix of “Hail Hail” and its catchier counterpart “Watching You Burn,” then the band bow out with a mighty title track that’ll bore a hole through your speakers. A muscular first outing for those who feel at home with musical violence, fans of extreme metal in general will take to “Sovereign” like a pig in mud. Now isn’t that reason enough to buy the album?

note: 9.5/10

Tracklist

1.Being And Nothingness
2.Indulge Me
3.Crown of Thorns
4.Unnamable
5.Take A Long Line
6.Going Down
7.Hail Hail
8.Watching You Burn
9.Sovereign

Line-up

Steve Souza-Vocals
Jed Simon-Guitars
Glen Avelais-Guitars
Byron Stroud-Bass
Gene Hoglan-Drums

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