ALBUM REVIEW: Fit To Kill – Blood Red Throne

With 8 albums under their belt Norwegian death metal legends BLOOD RED THRONE need little introduction, forging their own path of devastation for over 20 years and showing no sign of stopping any time soon. September 13th will bring forth their 9th full length release Fit To Kill which is due for release via Mighty Music. Will they continue to triumphantly march on and cement their legacy?

Requiem Mass comes surging out of the gates with the signature doom ridden guitar tone which we have all come to know and love. As the track gathers steam you are welcomed by a wall of savage growls and groove infused riffing. Vicious blast beats and blood curdling screams also make their presence felt as Fit To Kill gets off to a flying start. Bloodity continues in similar fashion with further bouts of boisterous guitar work supported by chunky bass lines. This track does not mess around and has the sole intention of steamrolling all in its path. Towards the midway point a slower pace is adopted and ridiculously addictive riffing takes hold. Killing Machine Pt 2 opens up with pulsing drums and swift intricacy. The raw aggression and dark atmosphere add another level of energy to proceedings.

WhoreZone injects a bit more melody into the mix whilst still packing the same demonic bite. The clinically precise footwork of Freddy Bolsø continues to impress as an old school death metal vibe surrounds the track. Skyggemannen hurls various waves of brutal blast beats in your direction accompanied by alluring groove. The intoxicating tempo will certainly get your adrenaline flowing and blood rushing. InStructured InSanity begins with some ominous sounding riffs teeing up another volley of blast beats to batter your skull. The guttural onslaughts expelled from front man Yngve Christiansen are laced with pure evil.

Movement Of The Parasites picks up the tempo with some frantic guitar outbursts that ebb and flow in technicality to keep you guessing which way they are going to venture next. The wicked melodies and bouncy groove drenched elements which are introduced as the track advances set it apart from the pack. Deal It Or Die lurks sadistically like a predator sneaking up on its prey before diving into further instances of enticing guitar work. The track gains momentum at a frightening rate refusing to be restrained. Impressive solo work wreaks havoc adding a further emphatic stamp. The appropriately titled End is hell bent on extracting every last atom of energy from your body as the instrumentation fires on all cylinders in terrifying unison. The jarring riffs combine seamlessly with bellowing ferocity and thumping drum work to bring you a skilful, skull crushing finale.

BLOOD RED THRONE don’t particularly offer anything innovative with this release but when you’re this consistent why would you need to concern yourselves with such trivialities? Fit To Kill is still easily one of the most solid death metal releases 2019 has to offer where not a single moment causes you to lose focus or drift elsewhere. Whilst being a death metal band through and through, they still continue to create particularly accessible tracks which will turn the heads of listeners who aren’t as infatuated with the extreme side of the metal spectrum.

Rating: 9/10

Fit To Kill is set for release on September 13th via Mighty Music.

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