REVIEW: WARCRY – Revenge in Blood

 

WARCRY – Revenge in Blood

Pure Steel Records

Back in the late ’90s, a wave of retro thrash metal emerged—bands attempting to revive the spirit of the ’80s by blending classic thrash with traditional heavy metal and adopting deliberately old‑school production. Many of these acts were entertaining at first, yet most ultimately proved forgettable, unable to capture the authenticity or songwriting strength of the original era. BEWITCHED remains one of the few exceptions that genuinely stood out.

On their second release, WARCRY from Germany clearly embrace this retro thrash aesthetic. Revenge in Blood channels strong nostalgia for ’80s metal, combining N.W.O.B.H.M. elements with Bay Area and European thrash riffing, topped off with harsh, gritty vocals. Stylistically, they sit close to bands like SACRED STEEL and BEWITCHED, though they don’t quite reach the same level of impact.

Despite their sincere dedication to true heavy metal, the album struggles to deliver memorable ideas. The energy is there, the attitude is there, but the songwriting rarely offers hooks or moments that linger after the first listen. For many listeners, returning to the album may prove difficult simply because the material doesn’t demand it. Passion alone isn’t enough to elevate the record beyond mediocrity.

Revenge in Blood isn’t a bad release, but it left me largely indifferent. The standout moment is their solid cover of OMEN’s “Deathrider,” which shows what the band can achieve when the material is stronger. Overall, their debut felt more inspired than this follow‑up.

Nick  Parastatidis