Genre: Thrash/Death Metal
Country: Brazil
Label:Metalized Records, Hellven Records, Voice Music, Repulsive Echo Records
Year: 2021
No one expected last year’s debut EP The Rise Of Heresy from The Troops of Doom. Jairo &co grab us from the throat punching our face with ferocious riffs that dazzled our heads painfully reminding us how glorious were the early days of Sepultura.
Jairo once again has bassist/vocalist Alex Kafer, drummer Alexandre Oliveira and guitarist Marcelo Vasco on his side. The Absence Of Light is a concept work inspired by the book Leviathan, from 17th century English philosopher Thomas Hobbes.
The new EP features six tracks and the opener and title track is actually an orchestral instrumental intro written by Dave Deville. Act I – The Devil’s Tail that follows reminds me a mixture of early Slayer (Hell Awaits era) with early Sepultura (Schizophrenia era). A song that works like a bridge with their debut EP. A dark composition with 100% old-school guitar distortion, snare drums and primitive growls.
Act II – The Monarch features Possessed legend Jeff Becerra (Possessed) on vocals and has also an early Slayer- early Seps vibe blended with Celtic Frost elements and proto black/thrash aesthetic. Both 2 first tracks are actually a fine example of mid-paced proto-death metal. Then a cover on Sepultura’s Antichrist reminds us and help new thrashers to connect Jairo with his past as the songs was originally released by his old band in “Bestial Devastation” EP, 36 years ago.
The EP close with the demo versions of Act I – The Devil’s Tail and Act II – The Monarch. A choice only if you’re interested in the recording process and how the tracks developed, truth be told an unnecessary and weird choice to fill the track listing. The Absence Of Light was mixed and mastered by Øystein G. Brun (Borknagar) at Crosound Studio in Norway. In addition to Becerra’s appearance on “The Monarch,” the EP features Lars Nedland of Borknagar, Solefald, and White Void on bass on the first three tracks.
So as The Absence Of Light EP actually features two songs and one cover, I say it’s a small yet decent appetizer for the new album that will come in early 2022.
The Absence Of Light is out digitally via Nuclear Blast digital subsidiary Blood Blast. The EP is available on CD via Metalized Records in Mexico and the US HERE, Hellven Records in Europe HERE, and Voice Music in Brazil HERE, on vinyl via Hellven Records in Europe HERE, and on cassette via Repulsive Echo Records in Europe HERE.
