REVIEW: ARCHANGEL A.D – WARBAND (2018)

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To be honest, all I need to do with this review is write down the chorus to the last song, “Metal Horde”.

As best as I can tell, it goes thus:

“Thrash is us. Who are you?
You all know what to do.
Heads down, horns up
It’s time to thrash it up
Thrash hard, thrash mean, thrash crazy like a machine
Head bang, head strong.
Let’s jam this fucking song.”

You already know they mean it, right?

You already know it sounds like Metallica before they stopped being a thrash band, and you’ve probably guessed that the singer does a more than passable impression of Dave Mustaine.

But here’s why “Warband” is ace: Archangel know this too. And they don’t give a monkeys.

Now there is a case for saying this type of album needs making anyway. Six songs that might fill the void now Slayer are off into the sunset, Metallica haven’t made a thrash record in decades and Megadeth have been a hard rock band since “Rust In Peace”.

It is sad, in a way that this came out on digital first. These songs needed to be analogue. It needed to be in 1983, and everyone needs a pair of hi-tops and a mullet.

Its 2018, obviously, but the four piece (who by the looks of them weren’t born when “The Black Album” came out, never mind “Ride The Lightening” are undeterred. The thing begins with a razor sharp riff, and “Unto The Evil” sees them go on about ghouls, ghosts and Lord (satan?) knows what else before its done.

“Blightning” proves that although the feel of this is 35 years old, there is a technical skill here and the twin axemen of Jacob Garcia and Matthew Karr are born for this role.

The title track is probably the pick and singer/bassman Justin Lopez excels here, as together with drummer Edward Vera Jr, they pound this to within an inch of its life.

Indeed, for all the beer soaked moshpit fun here, Archangel AD seem deadly serious about the music. The instrumental “Enter The Temple” is superbly done, and there is a real malice about “Evil Dreams”.

At over half an hour it is actually longer than “Reign In Blood” but this is an EP with an epic side too and a touch maybe of the metal doom of Candlemass and the like, as well as being lovingly crafted.

Often you’d end a review by suggesting how far a band could go. That doesn’t seem as valid as usual here, given that Archangel AD seem to be four friends who formed a band to make the music they love. “Warband” is the result. And it is a dark hearted little gem.

Rating 8/10

The album will be released on CD on Jan 11th 2019. The album is already out digitally via Bandcamp.

https://archangelad.bandcamp.com/releases

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