ARTILLERY - "Penalty By Perception"

April 12, 2016, 7 years ago

(Metal Blade)

Mark Gromen

Rating: 7.5

review heavy metal artillery

ARTILLERY - "Penalty By Perception"

With a lightning flash, chirping crickets and down home guitar tone that would preface a swampy south rock ode, the Danes quickly kick into the frenetic thrash they've pioneered since the ‘80s, no growls, high intensity guitar workouts. The third album, in 5 years from the same lineup, still featuring the Stützer brothers on guitar and bassist Peter Thorslund, who looks more like a college professor (or Second City alum/American Pie father, Eugene Levy) than a rock star! 

“Live By The Scythe” adds a degree of melody to the dirty guitars grinding underneath, particularly Michael Bastholm Dahl's tuneful, high-pitched singing. Lest you (mistakenly) thought these old-timers had (finally) gone soft, they come back with heads down banger of a title track, which sounds like someone perpetually falling down stairs, apart from the searing guitar break slicing through. Speaking of uncharacteristic, who expected the tender piano and acoustic guitar “When The Magic Is Gone”? Once again, they follow-up with a return to speed, aka “Cosmic Brain”. Pounding floor toms and mid-tempo chug commence “Mercy Of Ignorance”, before all Hell breaks loose. “Rites Of War” locks into its groove, from the first note. Alongside “Sin Of Innocence”, some of the quickest finger picking on the disc! No accident placing “Deity Machine” and jack boot sound effect begun “Path Of The Atheist” back to back, as this is the same band who penned “Damned Religion” and “Khomanic”. Long live the "old" school!



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