Here's another band I've known about, but had never before heard their music... German death metallers Revel In Flesh's fifth full-length album 'The Hour of the Avenger' was in a package I got a while ago, and I must say that I am very, very pleased with this purchase. Surely, as is my habit, I heard some of it online, but this beautifully frightening looking digipak CD is a fine item to look at, thank to ghastly artwork by Juanjo Castellano and ripping logo by Mark Riddick. There are also several vinyl editions available, as cassettes. This misses extras, like poster and flag, though.

May I ask, whether you are attracted by heavy and eerie sounds in vein of late 1980s / 1990s Swedish death metal? If your answer is firm "yes", then you are in for a real treat! Another one of 'em... This style is still doing well in many cases, so there's certainly no penury for it. I was hooked on the first proper listen. The album is filled with solid riffs and eerie melodies that haunt you long after the album is over. The rhythm guitar is absolutely sturdy, buzzsawy and crunchy. A Boss Heavy Metal HM-2 pedal was quite possibly utilized. Therefore this has a big Stockholm-death vibe to it. The album sounds like Sunlight Studio, Stockholm, production by Tomas Skogsberg, just made in 21st century.

Melodies play a big part in RIF's sound. They are often done with tremolo picking and thus have some black metal in them at times, vary from ghastly to wistful, from ominous to uncanny, and even beautiful (old Katatonia, no doubt). So, loads of minor chords are heard, and it's nothing short of dramatic. Like reaper's blade slicing through the miasmic mists...

The title opens the album with more black-ish vibes, thanks to sharp melodiousness akin to Unanimated. Definitely a fine influence, since Unanimated aren't doing a lot anyway... It is still very much punching, thanks to the barrage of double kick drumming. Surely, tempos do change from fast thrashing to doomier slowness, letting the music breathe. 'Blood Oath' contains progressing melodies, being one of the better compositions here. 'The Nihilistic Nothingness' is a sullen, groovy piece in vein of Edge Of Sanity or Desultory. Hypocrisy's mid-paced double kick drumming and hefty riffing style are often heard here. However, RIF are storming the past for more, as 'The Nightbreed' sounds like a amalgamation of early Amorphis and more melodic Bolt Thrower. Plainly put, it could be put so that RIF are a fine contender to the throne of their countrymates Fleshcrawl...

The song structures are pretty basic to this kind of death metal. There really are no superbly adventurous or inconceivable turns in the songs, albeit it is redundant of pop music compositions, too. Why change working formulas, though? Because this holds multitude of vibes, it never truly feels like it's same and same.

The vocals consist of two voices; one being low and very powerful, grunting growl, and other more throat-lacerating, shrieky growl, it certainly does remind of Peter Tägtgren Hypocrisy), even though it still is more like him and, say, Amon Amarth's Johan Hegg mixed into one. With heavy-handed riffing, leads and solos are hasty if needed, yet melodious. The drumming is both powerful and varying. The bass guitar provides the backbone, but not much more. Generally, the performances are energetic, vital.

This time the cover song choice is absolutely magnificent: Newer (!!!) Motörhead! I mean 'Orgasmatron's and 'Ace of Spades's covers have been heard about two million times, but 'Rock out' from 2008's 'Motörizer' is a fine, and without a doubt, a surprising pick.

The craving for late 1980s / early 1990s Swedish style death metal has now been quenched... For a moment, at least. I'm so convinced of this album, that the other RIF releases will be ordered. Any fan of such death metal, who already isn't stuffed with constant supply of its kind, should at least give 'The Hour of the Avenger' and the band a try, because both sparkle top quality. This truly is revelling turned into flesh; join the carnival of eternal rotting!

Reviewed by Lane
03/23/2021 20:46

German pioneers within the realm of a more than notorious Swedish sound, this release is a monument! First few times hearing it, it's really insurmountably wicked. Brutal riffs and vocals. The drums shuffle around alongside these wicked guitars. They've established themselves early-on and have kept going in a great progression. I don't see much wrong or ill-fated on this release. They've made it through early on and hit-home with this release. I'm really liking what I'm hearing in the music it seems like they're in a constant flux of different tempos. It gives the release variety and originality.

The vocals fluctuate between burly low to screams which gives it more variability. And the music on top of that puts it at a higher level in sustainability. These guys know what they're doing all-around. It's a monumental release and they sure do need some more press. Hopefully, we'll catch more follow-up releases since this one is about 4 years old.

There's been bands from Germany like Fleshcrawl who have the pedal that makes it sound like early Entombed, Entrails and Dismember. But their riffs on this one are sure as hell all them. These guys put forth a great 45 minutes of music that's absolute perfection. Just no beat that's missed, riff that wasn't without flaw and vocals that's not fitted in. They've really been a band that hasn't put a limit on their music. They keep down the path that's working for them. I can only see them getting better and better. I've thoroughly been convinced that they've been a hit in the department just picking up this CD yesterday!

Some bands like this end up going south, but I have a strong feeling that they're merely taking a break from the action. I think that they'll be back in the spotlight sometime soon. People in the death metal scene may not of heard of this band. Especially the millennials I hope that more ears will get on this even if it is just streaming for now. I collect CD's so it's not a problem for me to pick up a physical copy and show the band support. I know that Spotify have robbed musicians for years now in one interview one band only got 20 pounds last year and somewhere around 26 million listens to! I know that as long as streaming music goes, musicians are losing out on a lot of money. Especially touring and putting out new releases. The 80's and 90's were a lot different but when Napster came around, then it became out of control. Still, bands are making albums despite this. Lets hope that the true fans buy CD's and vinyl. Enjoy this release no matter where you hear it!

Rating: 9 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Death8699
07/17/2023 21:23