Deathstorm "For Dread Shall Reign" Review

    I've always said that thrash metal bands are doing God's work. Well, I haven't said it but I've certainly thought it. Preserving metal history, and even better, making it compatible with the modern landscape of metal music is admirable in almost all cases. When I notice an active thrash band releasing music I think that they must invariably be cool people with kind souls and a penchant for raw, fast, irreverent shit. Thrashers hold a special place in my heart. As is the case with Deathstorm, even when I find their holy work to be less savory than some of their contemporaries and progenitors.

    What I mean is that Deathstorm is, thru-and thru, an old school style band with an apropos attitude and approach. They've put out a handful of records since 2011 and each has been true to form, solid thrash that is without compromise. This much they do well, constructing wonderfully catchy riffs in the ways of old, whether its chunky mid tempo verses or the trusty uptempo, tremolo picked lines backing up leads and amping up the chaos. The way Deathstorm choose to structure the roster of licks they've assembled is quite enjoyable to hear unfold. One of the best progressions on the album comes in "Stygian Black", where a storm of entropic madness bursts forth and gradually gives way to the middling sections that hold together the destructive train of song that proceeds, introducing and discarding riffs in quick succession reminiscent of an act like Vio-Lence. Most of this back-and-forth of pushing down the gas and letting off is carried along by prototypically half-shouted/half-growled vocals, always taking staccato stabs out from the swirling riff mass. In either mode of riffing, the aggression is always at 11. In fact, it seems whenever one might suspect Deathstorm to be toning it down, they, as if on cue, flip the switch and turn everything into chaos once more. This approach is utilized most effectively on tracks like "Blades of Delusion", "Ripping and Tearing", and "Sulphuric Scents". Each rendition of this happens around half way thru the songs and hits like an arc flash as suddenly one is consumed by speed driven riffage when moments before they were simply coasting.

    The production on display here is also quite remarkable. After nine years, Deathstorm could undoubtedly try to alter their core sound without sacrifice to their identity. Yet, here they are, in 2020, making a record that sounds like it came out in the early 90s. It's the first thing I even noticed about the album, actually, in the intro drum fill of "Unforgotten Wounds": the just barely tin-sounding snare and toms occupying a rather passive space in a higher-than-normal register. Everything is mixed as such, filling out mids and highs, a sound that helped define thrash records in the early stages when audio fidelity in such chaos was lost when dipping into the low register without restraint. Of course, now we have squeaky clean production in modern thrash (the recent Havok comes to mind) that, while wholly enjoyable, does away with the couldn't-give-a-damn style of production that Deathstorm has going on. It's irreverent. Its evil sounding. Its fucking fun to listen to.

    However, I feel as if Deathstorm don't quite reach the kind of potency that their ancestors have already put forth. While the riffs are solid, I feel as if they share so much DNA with what has been put to tape in decades past that its hard not to make direct comparisons. This one sounds like "Seek and Destroy", this one sounds like "Thrashard", this one sounds like "The Toxic Waltz". I know, it sounds fucking dumb to say that thrash riffs sound similar to each other, its obvious. But, I mean, where are the tunes like "Prepare for the Slaughter" off of Deathstorm's first release, 2011's Storming with Menace? That sort of song stands on its own as a raw, aural ass whooping without remorse. It almost, almost, makes Morbid Saint look like pussies (but not quite; just go back and listen to "Assassin" to remedy this feeling). There's a history in that song that feels like it is still being written, not like its already been written and this is a retelling. If Storming with Menace is trying to be the New Testament then it feels like For Dread Shall Reign is the King James - a translation, a side step.

    I don't feel strongly about the songs on For Dread, as they just don't do the optimal job of evoking what I expect out of a thrash metal tune at this point. Maybe its the passage of time, maybe I'm being an asshole because I just got done diving deep into avant-garde black metal territory, maybe I could love such a release with more listens. Its all possible. What I know right now is that, if asked about For Dread, I'd likely do the hand gesture that everyone recognizes as meaning 'so-so'. As I said in the beginning, Deathstorm has a place in my heart for feeding the beast, for keeping the glorious E minor riffs of varying tempos but unwavering aggression coming. Someone has to do it. But as I come off this particular release I see them as a band that, with some time and effort, with some innovation and sweat and blood, with heart and soul and faster riffs and some luck, could probably appear on the next Lich King diss track.

Listen here:

-Dalton