DESASTER – “THE ARTS OF DESTRUCTION”
METAL BLADE (2012)
The first time I have ever heard of the Rhineland-Palatinate based quartet Desaster was back in 2007 when, together with a very good German friend, I attended the first ever Metal Cruise in the majestic city of Koblenz. Following a very impressive slot which was predominantly based on the band’s then upcoming release “Satan’s Soldiers Syndicate”, drummer “Tormentor” and I spent quite some time chatting about the band’s history and what they were trying to achieve as an outfit and I remember being mighty impressed by his sheer passion and determination. Five years since that meeting took place, the same can be said of the band’s attitude, judging from the eleven compositions of the band’s latest studio effort “The Arts Of Destruction”.
The last few years we have experienced quite a few young bands whose music combines the speed and ferocity of early 80s Thrash with the cold and unworldly elements of Scandinavian Black Metal, but before you rush into categorising Desaster as such, you might like to know that these guys have been bringing these two scenes together since 1988! Why is that important?
Because the experienced gained throughout these long and hard years has enabled these guys to create music that might be raw in character but which is presented in a very professional and intelligent way. Furthermore, the passion and honesty with which these guys indulge in their Slayeric riffs and their Bathory-influenced epic harmonies is so overwhelming that they are hard to resist.
The album kicks off with a short and quite atmospheric intro, followed by the up-tempo repetitive Black Metal riffs of “The Art Of Destruction” – a composition that comes across as both urgent and commanding. In “Lacerate (With Rays Of Doom)” the band presents us with a mid-tempo track, whose power lies in its main guitar melody, while the Sodom (“Persecution Mania” era) influences in the follow-up “The Splendour Of The Idols” makes it one of the highlights of the album.
If you wish to remind yourself of how Darkthrone sounded in the mid-00s, prior to turning to Punk, then “Phantom Funeral” is the song for you, while those of you who live and breathe all things 80s Thrash with a 90s Black Metal touch should check out “Queens Of Sodomy” and “At Hell’s Horizon”. “Troops Of Heathens, Graves Of Saints” is a mid-tempo rhythmical gem with galloping head banging riffs and the right minute “Possessed And Defiled” finds the band using slow epic/harmonic guitar passages and Running Wild melodies. “Beyond Your Grace” provides Sataniac (vocals) to exercise his pipes to the limit and the album bids you farewell through yet another epic-sounding instrumental theme.
When I think of Desaster I think of four guys who have formed a very strong bond over the years and whose sole purpose is to use their band as a medium for celebrating the music that they love and grew up listening to.
If Desaster decide to continue releasing more album in the years to come, which I really hope they will, chances are that they will not sound much different from “The Arts Of Destruction”. Is that a bad thing? As long as the end result continues to be that impressive and the motives this pure, then I am sure that people would find no reason not to support them. I, for one, can guarantee my loyalty!
John Stefanis
Rating: **** (4.0/5.0)
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