Black metal. War. Germany. The stage is set for the sophomore full-length of Zerstörer ('Destroyer'), and the band metes out an effective set of tracks which capture the grim desolation of the battlefield as well as the majesty and memory of the fallen. Essentially the album plays out like a Panzer Division Marduk, only slower.The band has the ability to create dark and glorious atmosphere through a surge of simple chords and carnal vocals. "Hatred Rising" is a great example of this, a driving piece which on the surface seems like any other raw black metal track except that it encapsulates a graceful power in its higher range of chord selection. "Slaughter of Divinity" surges with a slower pace as double bass lays down a tank tread of blasphemous apocrypha, whilst the riffs conjure hopelessness. "Pick Axe Blasphemy" opens with grisly melodic lead over a misanthropic hyper blast, escalating into a proto black/thrash riff. "Life Absorber" seethes with menace through a vile selection of minor chords to counteract its winding death mtal picking. Other epics include "Shattering Universe" and "Total Frost", the latter of which is a nice pun/play on the track's obvious influence.
Granted, there is nothing new or original to be had here, so if you don't like your black metal true, you're in the wrong place. The mix is good and powerful yet primal. The chords sound solid and the vocals blunt. You can hear Mayhem, Burzum, Bathory, Hellhammer/Celtic Frost, and some early Satyricon in their style, so they cover the basics but never sound too much alike any one band. Though unlikely to be a major contender in such a vast and vile library, it's yet another good offering from the German scene, worth your time if you enjoy the simplicity and power of pure black metal.
Verdict: Win [7.5/10]
http://www.myspace.com/zerstoererpanzermetal
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