EP REVIEW: Thy Messenger – Vader

Certain bands were born to stand the rest of time. It takes something special to become relevant in an over-saturated genre such as death metal and something even greater to remain so. VADER are one such band. Since their formation over three decades ago the band have churned out eleven full length studio releases and a number of extended plays without a single dip in form. Fans of the band have been waiting eagerly for new martial since the release of their eleventh studio album The Empire more than three years ago and it comes in the form of an extended play named Thy Messenger.

The EP begins in the exact way that you would expect with The Deceiver and any fears of VADER slowing down with age from their long serving fans are quickly laid to rest. Clocking in at just over two minutes long the band rain down fire and brimstone with a relentless battery of high paced drum work from James Stewart and ferocious riffs from guitarists Piotr “Peter” Wiwczarek and Marek “Spider” Pajak. The tightness that the band have always prided themselves on is very much still a thing of marvel and the intensity rivals that of the band’s heyday releases such as The Ultimate Incantation and De Profundis.

The following track Litany is simply a re-recorded version of the classic that was penned twenty years previously from the album of the same name. However, it is quickly followed by another brand new offering, Emptiness, which once again displays the fact that VADER can provide enough power in one two and a half minute track to level a small city. This track is strange in its presentation as it serves as an instrumental for the the first third of its two and a half minute run time. The drums are high paced and incredibly technical with the virtuoso twin guitar attack of Wiwiczarek and Pajack screaming over the top, further proving that Vader are a band that are more than capable to hang with their peers of the genre. Once the vocals do come in to play they are exactly what you would expect. Harsh gravelly barks that sound as if they are coming from old Lucifer himself and fit in perfectly with maniacal instrumental sections underneath.

Thy Messanger ends with a rendition of the classic JUDAS PRIEST track Steeler and although it is a solid effort and respectful to the original, it feels a little unnecessary when you consider that their fans are salivating over the idea of a full release of new tracks. This particular song is one that has been perfected once and covered a further million and one times before and didn’t really need the death metal treatment, but regardless it is a valiant effort.

Overall, Thy Messenger is a solid release that will no doubt wet the appetite of the faithful fans of the band. VADER are not a band that want to mess around too greatly with their sound and it is for that exact reason that their fans are so fiercely loyal to them. With the new original tracks sounding this good here’s hoping that the new full length release drops sooner rather than later.

Rating: 7/10

Thy Messanger is set for release May 31st via Nuclear Blast Records. 

Like VADER on Facebook.