ALBUM REVIEW: Death’s Toll – DeathCollector
Following on from their very well received first release, the Time’s Up EP, British/Irish death metallers DEATHCOLLECTOR return with their debut full-length album Death’s Toll and the band demonstrate that the momentum built up from that first release definitely translates into something even bigger and better this time around.
With the band consisting of members who have served time in or are currently in the storied likes of BOLT THROWER, MEMORIAM, ASHEN CROWN and ZEALOT CULT, you know that their musical pedigree is second to none and they certainly demonstrate that experience on this album. DEATHCOLLECTOR don’t disappoint when it comes to their straight to the point blend of death metal complete with crucial blasts of punk and hardcore elements thrown into the mix too.
From the opening detonation of the album’s title track, Death’s Toll is a full on aural attack on the senses, with both a heartfelt tribute to the past apparent but also with an eyes to the future feel about it. With tracks like Mental Hedonist and DeathCollector (in which vocalist Kieran Scott gives off big early MORBID ANGEL vibes) coming early on and showing exactly what this band is about, this album is a full on energetic death metal feast that doesn’t stop until its final track Rearview Guilt has ended.
Highlights abound throughout the album, of course, with the record’s bloodthirsty closing tracks Revel In The Gore and the aforementioned Rearview Guilt sounding things off nicely, but it is the visceral Coarse Visions that has to be pointed out as something truly special. The track starts with the instantly recognisable and undeniably brilliant drumming of Andy Whale combining to great effect with Lee Cummings‘ effortless bass playing and the unstoppable groove of Mick Carrey‘s guitar work to create a stirringly undeniable and anthemic death metal classic. When you add Scott’s powerful vocals into the mix, the track reaches its brutal apex, and of course it deserves a special mention that it should be the centrepiece for any live sets that DEATHCOLLECTOR do.
Ultimately, this is a vital album for death metal in the UK, Ireland and beyond, as tracks like Terrorizer (especially the berserk ending to the song), Internal Expansion and the immensely menacing A Taste Of Ichor reveal. It shows that DEATHCOLLECTOR are forging a new path when it comes to this style of music and the fact that they also have that raw hardcore/punk influence makes it all the more powerful as well as the band having something to say when it comes to their lyrics.
As debut albums go, Death’s Toll is a hell of a statement and is no doubt the start of a long musical journey for DEATHCOLLECTOR. Their raw and uncompromising death metal will surely crush all in its path with its no nonsense brutality. The future of British and Irish death metal is in safe hands with this band, and there is no denying that.
Rating: 9/10
Death’s Toll is set for release on June 23rd via Prosthetic Records.
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