by Brian Krasman (Meat Mead Metal)
Warbringer welcome their hellacious (third) new record “Worlds Torn Asunder.” The band is technically capable, and their sound is growing more mature with every release, proving they’re interested in being a quality unit and not just cashing in on a trend. They lean toward your tried-and-true thrash subjects of war, pestilence, evil and the crushing weight of being governed, and while their approach sometimes sounds a little cheeky, if you really pay attention to what’s going on, you’ll also realize they have their ears to the ground and are aware of what’s going on around them.
The quintet are doing their finest Spinal Tap by breaking in yet another new drummer, though from how they described it in a recent issue of Decibel, the band never has felt more secure. You can hear that in their music, too, and their assault is channeled and bloodthirsty, ripping into “Living Weapon,” a strong, stirring opener, where vocalist John Kevill sounds like he’s opening a war salvo by screaming, “Open fire!” “Shattered Like Glass” has solid bass work and a nice double-kick drum quake, as the song’s protagonist faces his own mortality at the throes of disease; “Wake Up … Destroy!” is a kick-ass blast that could be an excellent show opener, the thematically it sounds like an anthem for the Occupy movement; “Savagery” imagines black seas and dark skies as the world is torn apart; “Enemies of the State” has ties in today’s politics but would have worked just as well in thrash’s heyday, especially when Kevill warns, “The iron curtain closes, there’s no chance for escape”; and “Behind the Veils of Night” is a lucid instrumental that sounds like it belongs on an Opeth record.
Warbringer remains one of thrash’s best young bands, and their improvement since their formation in 2004 is quite evident. They sound dedicated to their craft and their sound, and they should keep getting better. They still need to make a landmark, special album that etches their name in history, but they sound capable of accomplishing that goal.
For more on the band, go here: http://www.facebook.com/Warbringermusic
To buy “Worlds Torn Asunder,” go here: http://www.cmdistro.com/Search/warbringer
For more on the label, go here: http://www.centurymedia.com/
