Starting with a Bolt Thrower-esque introduction (mid-paced double kick drumming and heavy bass guitar with BT-style lead melody), Belgian death metal quartet Ordeal's sole full-length album 'Atrocities' surely whets the appetite of the fans of the English legends.

However, Ordeal aren't like Bolt Thrower as whole; there certainly are some chord progressions and tempos reminding of BT, but when the action begins, it gets fast and sounds pretty much like Sinister. Add some old Death (the band) elements and no doubt these are some great influences right there! Ordeal knew how to be brutal and build some great melodious monoliths of misanthropy, too. Building on 1980s' and early 1990s' groundwork is what the band chose, and really did not fail in mixing a tasty cadaver juice cocktail of European and US metals of death.

The songs vary enough from each other and were kept rather short, so they do not stumble, nor does the album, even though it gets somewhat samey towards the ending. The guitars offer palm muted as well as furious tremolo riffing, and often semi-melodic playing, and actually rather melodic soloing with otherworldly reverbed tone. It is catchy for a death-head, but probably not for those who are looking for some real melodiousness. Commanding mid-paced double kick drumming (yeah, the BT way!) is heard a lot, but the pace also speed up into blast beating here and there, and anything between. The bass guitar is busy, usually staying in lower frequencies, but also hitting the other end of the fretboard. As a whole, the band sound threatening and impetuous here, really capable for their trade. With the exception of outro, which is softer with acoustic guitars and genius melody work (not far from early In Flames, actually), including sampled speeches.

The lyrics carry the subjects of war and failed life. They are simplistic and there's no deeper, no other meanings in them. They simply cater for vocals, and that's okay by me. There's varying pacing in vocalization, and that's what matters more, making it all more interesting. Growling heard here is pretty much mixed into the music. Low-ish growls and barked higher pitched distorted voice fit in well.

The album works well, but if you do not want something that's done thousands of times before, then there might be nothing of interest inside this carrion to scour. It's not that easy to tell which song was which after it's over, but it does its job with intense scathing.

Rating: 7+ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
06/27/2023 20:13