ALBUM REVIEW: Hellbutcher – Hellbutcher
Rewind the clock to the 1990s and NIFELHEIM were spearheading the Swedish black metal scene thanks to their ‘old school’ approach and fusion of black and thrash metal characteristics. Although the band are seemingly on permanent hiatus, vocalist Per ‘Pelle’ Gustavsson (better known by his stage moniker HELLBUTCHER) is showing that he still has plenty left in the tank. His new eponymous project arrives with their self-titled debut effort, and through channelling the legacy and bite of NIFELHEIM, this record lights the torch paper and does not disappoint.
Blackened thrash has enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent years with the likes of HELLRIPPER and DEVASTATOR encouraging chaos and bedlam in venues across the world with their takes on the genre, so naturally there are question marks as to whether HELLBUTCHER can keep pace with the new blood. And after even a cursory peruse of their self-titled album, the answer is a resounding yes.
Flying out of the gates with the album opener, The Sword Of Wrath is a blistering barrage of thrashing riffage and Hellbutcher‘s snarling vocals that cut through the mix effortlessly. There are subtle splashes of melody in the lead guitar work, which wail over the mid-tempo rhythm before subsiding into a blistering solo that calls back to heavy metal’s glory days of the 1980s – a triumphant start indeed and one that instantly dispels the notion that this band are a relic of a previous time.
From there, HELLBUTCHER keep the intensity white hot. Hordes Of The Horned God is an utter earworm with some devilishly slick riffing whilst the man himself sounds like a possessed preacher as he snarls “Hordes, hordes, hordes / Of the horned God!”, whilst Death’s Rider surges forward with a pulsating rhythm that feels like it would sit comfortably on a VENOM record and channels the snotty punk attitude oh so well. Elsewhere, Possessed By The Devil’s Flames is utter aural bedlam as a barrage of speed metal riffs combine with Hellbutcher‘s rasping snarls to keep the adrenaline surging, and Satan’s Power will have you cracking out your air guitar with one of the finest solos on the entire record.
Black thrash fans rejoice! Hellbutcher is a frantic and razor-sharp slice of wicked metal that rarely takes its foot off the gas. Capturing the essence of what makes black thrash so damn enjoyable, this is a record packed to the brim with killer riffs and a mean bite that will keep you coming back for more. Whilst NIFELHEIM may fall to the annals of legend, Gustavsson is forging his own path with this new project and it will be a comfort for those black thrash aficionados. Play it loud and bang you head!
Rating: 8/10
Hellbutcher is out now via Metal Blade Records.
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