Oct
30
Album Review: Decadence-Chargepoint
Ignoring the fact that Decadence have a hot chick for a singer (she’s the growly type, FYI), this new album of theirs is a savage thrash beast filled to the brim with utterly smokin’ guitar play from uncelebrated six-string wizard Ken Latz and the deadliest machinegun tempos to emerge from Europe in a long while. For those tired of the two dimensional bleakness from the teutonic Titans (that’s your favorite Kreator and Sodom) and their innumerable clones, Decadence arrive to refresh the genre with a contemporary sound grounded in such timeless verities as endless riffs, relentless percussion, and melodic arrangments. All these, however, come with that rather newfangled novelty, the death metal guttural grunts. In case you didn’t read the first sentence of this review, them grunts here are done by a foxy blonde goddess. Her vocals are butt ugly though.
Enough of the people in the band now and mor eon the songs: How are they? Pretty effin’ good. If you always dg how European bands can manage to use melody and the harsh stuff without having to add any ‘core’ (shame on you, U.S.A. metal scene!), then Decadence are right up your alley. From intricate rhythm playing worthy of Archenemy to patented Megadeth gitar solos and Slayer decibels, songs like opener “Discharge,” “Strength of Mind,” and the muscular “Challenge” are feasts for the ears.
Being on the dirtier side of thrash despite the epic glimmers, heavy as hell chugs and breakdowns do enjoy playing time on the album. All the listener needs to do is try the songs “Silent Wepaon (For A Quiet War)” or Out of Ashes.” Matters take a speedy turn on several sogns on this rather brief opus (clocking in at an easy 37:29, “Chargepoint” hardly leaves room for filler) on “Point of No return,” “Strength of Mind,” “Be Home When I’m Gone,” and the majestic closing instrumental “The Demons Run.”
Wholly unsentimental, straight to the point, and just dripping with thrash gratification, “Chargepoint” could be the kind of album that rockets Decadence to a new level of success and recognition.
-Miguel
