REVIEW: IMMACULATE - Atheist Crusade

 

IMMACULATE - Atheist Crusade (2010)

Stormspell Records

With Atheist Crusade, Swedish metallers IMMACULATE deliver their second full-length album, following their 2007 debut, Thrash, Kill 'n' Destroy. The band had also released a demo in 2004, entitled T.K.N.D. Pre-Production Demo. Both the demo and their debut album are available for free download in their entirety on the band's official website, offering listeners the opportunity to discover the band's earlier material.

IMMACULATE play technical speed/thrash metal, combining fast, intricate guitar work with high-pitched vocals and an unmistakable affinity for the classic American school of the genre. And the results are really good! I thoroughly enjoyed the entire album, but tracks like "Cross of Nero", "The Immaculate Dead", "Gutterthrash" and the title track really blew me away. There is enough speed, aggression and technical proficiency here to satisfy even the most demanding fans of this particular sound, without losing sight of the songwriting itself.

The album also includes a very good cover of "Spectre Within", originally featured on FATES WARNING's second album, The Spectre Within. It is a welcome addition to an already strong release, further reflecting the band's appreciation for the more technical and progressive side of traditional American metal.

It has been a really long time since I last listened to something this good in the speed/thrash metal subgenre! IMMACULATE seem to have spent considerable time listening to bands such as TOXIK, REALM, INTRUDER (particularly their third album), ATROPHY and HEATHEN, among others. These influences are evident in the intricate guitar arrangements, the energetic rhythm section and the vocal approach, yet the band manages to deliver a convincing performance of its own. The production is loud and powerful, the guitar work is genuinely impressive, and the vocals are excellent, complementing the music's high-speed attack.

For me, Atheist Crusade is easily one of the top releases I have listened to over the past year! Fans of US power/speed metal and technically inclined thrash will definitely appreciate what these Swedes have to offer. It is also satisfying to see that the revival of the classic metal sound continues in Sweden, with bands like IMMACULATE keeping this particular musical tradition alive.

In conclusion, Atheist Crusade is a must-have album for anyone who appreciates this style of metal. Stormspell Records has once again made an excellent choice, and I will be eagerly awaiting IMMACULATE's next step!

Ioannis Kaskamanidis