ALBUM REVIEW: Rex – Vampire

Almost like clockwork, its time for another record from Swedish extreme thrashers VAMPIRE. Darlings of the underground scene, VAMPIRE immediately drew attention in 2012 with their self-titled demo, which managed to sell out of all copies in less than a week – including one to a certain Fenriz or DARKTHRONE fame. But almost a decade on, the Swedes are far more than that anecdote with an incredibly well received self-titled debut album, the equally well received follow up – With Primeval Force – and a solid EP under their belts already. Now they’re back with their third full length – can they keep the momentum rolling, or are the underground kings set to fall off course?

Where their self-titled debut was a raw, visceral take on modern death thrash, With Primeval Force saw a welcome progression for VAMPIRE. They retained that bite that made their debut so great, but hints of melody and atmosphere, and a more polished production benefited the band tremendously. As such, Rex has a lot of work to match its predecessor, but oh boy is it up to the challenge. Intro tracks may be done to death at this point, but Prelusion‘s Gothic tones give a lovely indication for what’s to come, fading nicely into the title track with a tortured scream, blistering pace and a Tom G. Warrior-esque “Ooh!“. It’s not just speed with no substance, though. There’s some stunning melodies subtly tucked into the mix, and a gorgeous burst of shredding for good measure. An energetic start to the record, to say the least.

Inspiritus does a splendid job of keeping the momentum high, finishing with some stunning solo work taken right out of the IRON MAIDEN playbook, while Wiru-Akka, first heard last year as a demo, brings the thunder with tortured vocals, breakneck tempos and plenty of subtleties to keep things interesting. Wiru-Akka slows to a groovier stomp around the mid-section, allowing some more of those Dave Murray/Adrian Smith inspired leads to shine through. Pandemoni, meanwhile, has a nice, brutalised NWOBHM swagger, haunting synths cutting through the groove to lift the atmosphere before yet another stunning solo makes its presence felt.

Approaching the half-way point, the tone for Rex has been well and truly set. The album finds one of its strongest moments in Moloch, which delivers some stunning poetry wrapped up in arguably the best guitar work for the record, which is no small praise, the bridge lifting the atmosphere to new heights. Meanwhile, Rekviem leans into blackened thrash territories with its unmatched ferocity and game-stopping speeds, and Serafim offers a slower, though no less intense, rager. With penultimate track, Animus, however, VAMPIRE really push out of their comfort zone. A militaristic rhythm stomps its way through the six and a half minute run time, while the band really push the atmospherics to a whole new level masterfully creating a palpable sense of unease. The Castlevania-esque synths coupled with the repeated, tortured refrain of the song’s title really double down on the creepy vibe of the Rex‘s penultimate offering. Album closer Melek-Taus, however, goes right for the jugular to round things off, the lead single eviscerating at every turn to magnificent effect.

For those familiar with VAMPIRE – and if you’re not, give your head a wobble, preferably in the form of some violent headbanging – the sonic pallet of Rex won’t come as a surprise. From the get go, the record is crammed with high octane ragers, blending the extremity of death metal and black metal with the thrashing core of their sound, all wrapped up in a melodious, slightly Gothic atmosphere. But while the foundations of VAMPIRE‘s sound haven’t changed, the execution is stronger than ever. World-class songwriting, longer numbers with more space for growth and a couple of brilliant wildcards make Rex the strongest VAMPIRE album yet.

Rating: 9/10

Rex is set for release on June 19th via Century Media Records. 

Like VAMPIRE on Facebook.