Tyrants Blood | ‘Crushing Onward Into Oblivion’

“Crushing Onward Into Oblivion”, the second full length from Vancouver’s Tyrant’s Blood (and second release for the band on Ireland’s own Invictus label) opens with an absolute ferocity that proceeds to barely let up for the duration of their black thrash assault.

New vocalist Brian Langley in particular is to be admired for adding to the ferocity of it all by really dragging out the screams past the point where you’d expect them to finish; it’s almost as if he decided during recording that this already brutal album wasn’t vocally aggressive enough, and it really adds to the level of care you can feel that the band took in making this.

The guitars practically trip over themselves in the sheer haste and fury on display. Solos are short and used sparingly; there’s simply no time for guitar wankery; the rest of the band intend to utterly pummel the listener’s ears, and they’re not waiting around for any member.

No song symbolizes this more than album highlight ‘Deceiver’ which genuinely feels like being battered inside your head by total aggression. No review hyperbole here either, listening to that track you’d be better off sitting down. It’ll hammer you.

The whole album sounds chaotic as hell, but in such a tightly controlled fashion; dirty as muck but impeccably timed. This music is filthy as fuck, and begs repeat listens. It’s then an odd choice why they chose such cover art – a deep, quiet, mystical cosmos doesn’t really reflect the fact that listening to this feels like getting booted in the head.

The use of samples too has to be seriously commended. Tyrant’s Blood have managed to pick the perfect samples for the two tracks that have them, they’re not too long, don’t sound stupid, and suit the aggression of the songs down to the ground. Honestly, no band I’ve ever heard has done it as aptly as these guys, it just works so well, particularly in ‘Empire Of Acheron.’

This is just a really enjoyable listen, enhanced by the spot on production. There’s no threat of digital cleanliness here, it sounds analogue and metal as fuck. It’s perfectly paced for a single listening session in that it lasts for just the right length of time for black thrash, it’s aggressive as hell, and it’s well worth a pickup.

4.1 / 5 - Dónal McBrien ::: 11/03/10