High Reeper : "Renewed By Death"

Here is some classic-sounding metal, that could have rolled out from the late 80s. When they chug they mean it. This is a guitar band, as the drums fall behind their chug in the mix. I'm not normally huge on guitar solos but these guys craft them in a way that compliments the song. They get to the point and don't fuck around. I like what the vocals did on the first song more than the second on my initial listen, but it might need time to sink. This guy reminds me of the singer from Death Angel at times  The vocals are always at the forefront of the songs. The guys have some power to his voice, so it makes sense and sets them apart from the pack 

I would say this is typically more thrash than doom, though they are marketing it as doom. It just feels like back when thrash bands felt the coming of grunge and slowed on on purpose to fit in. The first song still reigns at the vocal hooks had more purpose rather than "Lamentations of the Pale" where he is just belting it out at you. They reach a balance of heaviness and melody in"Broken Upon the Wheel". Then things get doomier on "Jaws of Darkness' though it grooves pretty hard on the thrash chug. At times this album makes me think of what Death Angel might have sounded like if they smoked a ton of weed after making "Act 3" and decided to try to make an album like C.O.C's "Blind".  "Smouldering Remains" finds them breaking out the bong before they crank into the chug again. The vocals are punchier. Nowadays, I appreciate any band that makes heavy music with singing that is not progged out. 

"Torn From Within" finds them back to thrashing, and while they have stepped on the gas here it does not feel as inspired. The last song has a darker more ominous tone to it, I had to give a second listen to hear how it resonated with me. The melodic playing that opens it provides a suited calm before the storm. It chugs in a doomier tempo. Almost like doomy Metal Church, if we are talking "Blessing in Disguise" era. They not only did a great job on this album of capturing an authentic sound but wove it into catchy songs. I will give it a 9.5. 

pst490