Massive Assault - Death Strike
Now on their second full length release, Massive Assault are an old school rotten death metal band from the Netherlands who tread the fine line between HM-2 pedal genius and crust punk, similar in style to Bastard Priest. From the opening thumping tirade of ‘Driven Towards Death’ this is an album that gives you a big adrenaline rush, it has a sense of purpose and direction, it’s mission is to destroy and that is exactly what I myself want to hear.
Ok, you may think that this is another band playing a tried and tested formula that may be, but like the aforementioned Swedes, these Dutch musicians take you to school and back, it’s the energy that you get from this release that far outweighs any negativity towards their musical style and its relevance in today’s industry. And just for the record, it’s very relevant. Continuing the sermon is ‘Dismal Life’ that begins with that famous monstrous guitar tone and undead John Tardy vocal howls, the thunderclap kick drums batter your head in the background keeping time effortlessly towards Armageddon day with a touch of Autopsy/Dismember worship keeping some of the purists happy. The Netherlands appears to be a hotbed for this style of death metal, countrymen Engorge also make one hell of a racket, and with Massive Assault (a perfect band name for this style) at the helm also, maybe we should look further than the resurgence in Scandinavia and the US.
By no means is ‘Death Strike’ an original effort, I still defy the critic’s and ask them to explain what the hell they want out of this genre, if you stray too far from a particular mould then you are playing something different right? But in this case, Massive Assault take an energy, a sound that is timeless and guitar tone that I absolutely adore to heart, they mix the crustiness of Bastard Priest with the forefathers of the Swedish scene Dismember’s slower arrangements and a touch of Obituary’s screaming vocals, now that is a pretty good mix you should surely agree with? Give this album a chance if you really think you know your stuff and can take the sound of the world tearing itself apart in a relatively short space of time. This record label rarely produces filler releases, Massive Assault are another quality band to rival the likes of Revel in Flesh for the top position of brutal, heavy, rotten death metal mastery.
Ok, you may think that this is another band playing a tried and tested formula that may be, but like the aforementioned Swedes, these Dutch musicians take you to school and back, it’s the energy that you get from this release that far outweighs any negativity towards their musical style and its relevance in today’s industry. And just for the record, it’s very relevant. Continuing the sermon is ‘Dismal Life’ that begins with that famous monstrous guitar tone and undead John Tardy vocal howls, the thunderclap kick drums batter your head in the background keeping time effortlessly towards Armageddon day with a touch of Autopsy/Dismember worship keeping some of the purists happy. The Netherlands appears to be a hotbed for this style of death metal, countrymen Engorge also make one hell of a racket, and with Massive Assault (a perfect band name for this style) at the helm also, maybe we should look further than the resurgence in Scandinavia and the US.
By no means is ‘Death Strike’ an original effort, I still defy the critic’s and ask them to explain what the hell they want out of this genre, if you stray too far from a particular mould then you are playing something different right? But in this case, Massive Assault take an energy, a sound that is timeless and guitar tone that I absolutely adore to heart, they mix the crustiness of Bastard Priest with the forefathers of the Swedish scene Dismember’s slower arrangements and a touch of Obituary’s screaming vocals, now that is a pretty good mix you should surely agree with? Give this album a chance if you really think you know your stuff and can take the sound of the world tearing itself apart in a relatively short space of time. This record label rarely produces filler releases, Massive Assault are another quality band to rival the likes of Revel in Flesh for the top position of brutal, heavy, rotten death metal mastery.
- Driven Towards Death
- Cycle Of Violence
- Operation Anthropoid
- Finished Sympathy
- Turning Tides
- Pride
- Dismal Life
- Aggressive Depression
- Chained
- Plead Not Guilty
Label: http://www.fda-rekotz.com
Reviewer: twansibon
Apr 11, 2012
Apr 11, 2012
Next review:
Graveyard - The Altar Of Sculpted Skulls
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