ALBUM REVIEW: By Ancient Force – Indian Nightmare

Currently based in Germany, INDIAN NIGHTMARE have members from Mexico, Turkey, Indonesia and Italy bringing together a plethora of influence to create their trademark “Tribal Metal Punks” – with which they have nestled themselves quite neatly into the blackened thrash scene. Striding towards their goals with an already commendable debut release INDIAN NIGHTMARE take to the front lines with their latest album By Ancient Force.

Bass wielder Cedro fires the starting gun as Bastions Of Nightmare ignites a musical furnace that brings together the raw production of Toxic Waltz-era EXODUS and the falsetto laden musical mastery of the Belgian quartet EVIL INVADERS. It’s a refreshing combination that slams through your ears like a heavy metal locomotive whilst allowing unique traits to seep through slowly but surely. Incursions Of Death develops the speed metal elements with a mature progression, swiftly leaping between tasty old school thrash and gritty blackened riff-craft. Just as one thinks INDIAN NIGHTMARE have perhaps taken too many pages from their Belgian counterparts, Poison Snake leads the musical rabble through a vocal fuelled display of no holds barred diversity in Serpents Eye.

Like the mosh-hungry legions they long to entertain Land Of The Damned incites fresh energy by opting for rhythm fuelled madness that is held together with tasteful melody and face melting guitar solos. Complete with a bizarrely entertaining music video the unforgettable Yang Terampas Dan Terhisap turns up the diversity almost as much as the reverb – not the best offering but thrilling nonetheless. The use of seemingly ancient analogue tapes has served INDIAN NIGHTMARE rather well, bringing newfound life to a sound reminiscent of a time at least 30 years into the archives of metal. It works surprisingly well for emboldening their speed metal characteristics, Set The Spirit Free is as good an example as any to showcase this idea in action. Without the solid rhythm of Lalo behind the drums it would be difficult for INDIAN NIGHTMARE to maintain the ferocity they are acclaimed to harness. Indeed The Awakening brings together the best abilities of all five members, not only showcasing the duel guitar virtuoso but everything else that makes a metal album a timeless classic.

By Ancient Force is certainly a creditable, talent charged album which does all in its power to showcase the desired direction of a young yet ambitious band. It resurrects the grittiest elements of old school thrash and empties it into a plethora of speed, blackened thrash and mosh inducing rhythm. Despite a range of influences, INDIAN NIGHTMARE envelope each other musically into an unstoppable power intent on ripping through the scene like wildfire. While at times slipping into territory that is either repetitive or heavily alike to EVIL INVADERS, they maintain a deadly concoction with which they can gain the notoriety they have worked so hard towards.

Rating: 7/10

By Ancient Force is set for release May 24th via High Roller Records. 

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