Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 12:34 PM by Lilliana Tseka
Genre: Heavy/Thrash
Country: Germany
Label: Punishment 18 Records
Year: 2015
There are too many records that are being released almost every day, especially through the internet. Even if you have plenty of time for listening, for downloading or even if you have much money to buy things, I’m sure that you will miss some of them and you will not pay the proper attention to some others. There are some moments, where you have discovered something and you ran to your friends introducing it to them like the next big thing or the best album of the year, especially if your discovery came out of nowhere or came out by an unknown group. I’m pretty sure that a lot of you have experienced all of the above. So, if there has been a lot of time since your last discovery, give this record a chance.
Running Death (what a cliché name) dropped out of nowhere and with their debut studio album ‘Overdrive’ are here to make an impression. The band actually formed back in 2004, with a demo and two Eps in their back catalogue. In their very first full length you can see that they have actually worked for it, the songs are well crafted and it seems as they weren’t in a hurry to just release a record. Their genre is a mix of thrash metal with a splash of traditional heavy metal and some N.W.O.B.H.M. elements.
The sound they chose, doesn’t belong to the old school thrash revival “movement”, it’s neither dirty nor raw, or even ‘80’s. However, it’s neither much of a modern sound not groovy nor full of bass. The sound that will reach your ears is clean and dry, you will listen to all the musical instruments loud and clear (it’s been too long since I’ve heard a audible bass guitar), the guitars are quite crunchy and the drums simply, functional and creative. With a few words they have a modern heavy metal sound.
The voice has a rough German accent, but by no means annoying, on the contrary sometimes it sounds plaintive and nostalgic. Musically speaking, the band is quite technical, with very good and fresh ideas, that brings in mind early Annihilator, with variety in riffing and impressive structure. They don’t rely on frenetic speed, on the contrary they prefer (and get justified) more technical mid-tempos and get wild only on their melodic and fast solos.
I honestly can’t find any major flaws. The only thing that someone could name is the big duration of the album (53 minutes), however in my ears sounds just fine with a great flow, without being tiring and with moments that stick in your mind. I’m convinced that it would be quite a difficult task for the group to overcome their debut studio album. I really hope to be startled! The best release by Punishment 18 Records’ roster by far.
Highlights: ‘Psycho?’, ‘Mercenary’, ‘Hell On Earth’
5/6
