VENGEANCE HORDE - SURGING VENGEANCE
A two-song EP by a mysterious and physically imposing figure known as J.K. came out in 2022 and had everybody amazed and just how expertly the thundering fury of Bestial Warlust had been emulated. And if imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery then Vengeance Horde inadvertently had the torch passed to them (or rather, him) in the most honorable way imaginable.
First a barrage of either munitions exploding or the sky being torn asunder leads into the title track and its short, savage, divine bloodshedding. A little more punkish in nature and as if that entire genre ingested a truckload of PCP, "The Law Of Heathen War" is revolt against modernity and stagnation set to thermonuclear hellblasts. Speaking of, having also appeared on the EP, "Horned Command" is exemplary war metal, the crashing of cymbals and drum strokes evoking deep-seated rage upon a desolate wasteland that once served as battlefield where the most inhuman atrocities took place. Mercilessness strikes once again with "Sifting of Souls", distorted guitar tones sporadically chiming in amidst the ungodly tempo that the strings endlessly lash out. Also gracing the lauded EP, "Iron and Steel" returns here to bombard the listener with nonstop pummeling from start to finish, for this was the song that introduced the project to us spinelsss mortals and gave it the recognition that it deserves and is the longest track here with a name truly befitting of war metal. To end the assault upon mankind, "Wolves of the War (Out for the Feast)" is a dizzying delight of madness and hedonism that is relentless in its expertly executed chords, growls, and battery for a too fast yet also long enough to hammer you into oblivion for four minutes and twenty seconds. For this is war metal and as we are all well aware, in battle there is no law.
Perhaps one day we'll learn exactly who this menacing Neanderthal of a monstrosity really is, but for right now the enigma alone adds to the mystique of this belligerent and insanely violent act. Even though that Bestial Warlust reunion the has been teased before may or may not ever happen, at least we have others who can capture their essence and spirt with total confidence to hold us over.
9/10
