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LOUDBLAST "Altering Fates and Destinies"
LOUDBLAST "Altering Fates and Destinies"
By Dr. Abner Mality
I recently reviewed the latest album by French death metal band MERCYLESS, who have been around for 30 years and have amassed a great discography. Well, compared to their countrymen LOUDBLAST, MERCYLESS are relative newcomers. Stephan Buriez, sole remaining original member of LOUDBLAST, started the band in 1985 when he was 17 years old. That makes them the oldest French death metal band by far....indeed, when they started, the band was called thrash because the term death metal barely existed.
Here's the latest album from the band and while no new trails are blazed, they have mastered the one they're on with no effort. LOUDBLAST practically created this style in their home country, they have the right to stay true to it. 40 years is an awful long time and sometimes weariness can set in, but with "Altering Fates And Destinies" they manage to sound vital and energetic.
In the promo material, Buriez makes it a point to say he's just as influenced by MERCYFUL FATE and IRON MAIDEN as by DEATH and MORBID ANGEL. That makes for a well rounded album that can sound mean and dirty on "Putrid Age of Decay" and "Forbidden Pleasures" but also atmospheric and almost progressive on "He Who Slumbers" and the superb mid-tempo "Fortress". This latter track has an almost uplifting tone to it. Every cut here has its own personality and while some are clearly better than others, none can really be called bad. If you like sophisticated death metal, LOUDBLAST is a no-brainer.
The band also boasts the presence of the remarkable bassist/guitarist Frederic LeClerq, who has contributed to such varied and wide ranging acts as DRAGONFORCE, KREATOR, SINSINAEUM, HEAVENLY and more. It's easy to take his smooth playing for granted, but it adds a lot of this record.
If DEATH had lasted 40 years, I really wonder if they would sound as heavy and charged up as LOUDBLAST do here.
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