ALBUM REVIEW: Into Certain Death – Ragehammer

Those who like their metal fast, dirty and uncompromising will already be well aware of Poland’s RAGEHAMMER, Who burst forth onto the scene in 2016 with The Hammer Doctrine, a slab of raw, warlike nastiness that embodied the band’s mission statement. Now they have returned, with their long awaited sophomore album tearing at its chains, but can it possibly live up to its predecessor?

The album’s intro piece begins well, building tension and speed, before kicking over into high gear with We Are The Hammer. There is a clear first wave black metal influence here. It is metal of a nature that sits firmly in the vein of AURA NOIR, that being grimy, SODOM worshipping black thrash. Tracks such as this and its chaser Jesus Goat set the pace for what is to come. This track is even faster, throwing itself between thrash passages and icy blastbeats accompanied by some call and response vocals that serve to highlight the different styles being displayed in possibly the nastiest way possible.

The middle stretch of Into Certain Death is a solid cacophony. Both Peace and Na Pewną Śmierć deliver utterly blistering thrash. The bass work provided by Corpsebutcher throughout this album is at its best here, not only is it high enough in the mix to actually make out, at times it can feel almost as though it is being used as a lead instrument, something which makes a refreshing change in the well-trodden world of thrash and its offshoots.

616: TerrorKorps is next, which manages to show off some Show No Mercy-inspired riffing, interesting basswork reminiscent of Steve Harris and harsh, grating vocals, all wrapped up in a bundle of blackened speed to tremendous effect. This is a real and true shredder. The same can be said for Fear Toxin, probably the fastest track yet with a mid-paced bombastic middle segment with some excellent sharp riffing on display. The song ends on the strongest example of face-melting speed displayed on the album so far, which will more than likely firmly sear itself into your memory.

Omega Red begins with a leering, ominous roll of double bass drums and almost sneering vocals, with an overlying tremolo riff that builds into another soaring thrash segment. A particular highlight from this song is the outro, where deep, almost Gregorian style chanting is introduced to reinforce the melody being laid down by the ultra-speedy guitar. An interesting move for a thrash album, but a risk that is worth taking clearly as it stands out as one of the albums more memorable moments.

The album’s closer, Prophet of Genocide pt. 2 (Mother Winter Eternal) begins with a cold, clean intro, before dropping into an almost proggy riff, accompanied by melodic vocals, much cleaner than what has been exhibited before. This is an interesting listen, introducing several new elements that could have really elevated the rest of the album if they had been introduced earlier rather than being saved for the final salvo. When the utter savagery of the closing neck-snappingly fast thrash part begins, it seems so much more effective due to the fierce contrast to the first half of the track and creates a vibrant, interesting and excellent closer.

Overall, Into Certain Death is a solid follow up to an enormous debut. The album as a whole is simply just fun. The band do not seem to be obsessed with merely aping their idols of BATHORY, VENOM and SODOM, but instead adding their own originality and moulding it all together into something fresh.

Rating: 7/10

Into Certain Death is out now via Pagan Records. 

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