CD Review: Angelus Apatrida - The Call

Written by Colin McNamara Tuesday, 15 May 2012 10:06

Artist: Angelus Apatrida
Title: The Call
Genre: Thrash Metal
Release Date: 27th April 2012
Label: Century Media Records

Album Review

‘The Call’ is the fourth full length album from Spain’s Thrash attack ANGELUS APATRIDA. Following in the vein of groups like EXODUS and KREATOR, much of the music here is fast, violent riffs with sharp vocals, catchy choruses, and every once in a while the slow, foreboding build up right before an explosion of music. Some just feature no mercy and include the typical fast openings, a steady riffing all throughout the verses that is similar to very early METALLICA (but with rawer vocals) and of course the driving chorus that has the melodic power of Power Metal without being too over the top. Others like ‘Blood On The Snow’ start slow to build, keeping listeners in suspense until things start to get heavier, creating a foreboding atmosphere that is quite effective to balance out the faster bits of Thrash. ANGELUS APATRIDA actually isn’t quite as heavy as it may seem. Unlike SLAYER they aim more for a mid paced churn, speeding up here and there but overall keeping things at a rather enjoyable rhythm, as displayed on ‘All Hope Is Gone’.

The band even throws in some Groove Metal elements with ‘Still Corrupt’; some could consider it even sounds like the instrumentation a band like LAMB OF GOD might perform recently. It is still heavy, but the song approaches on a level that listeners will notice isn’t quite like conventional Thrash. On the other hand, ‘Reborn’ is quite the conventional Thrash assault with one of the better riffs heard on the album that drives the song, but at the same time it can get rather repetitive after a while. Fortunately, ANGELUS APATRIDA tosses in a melodic interlude- something they haven’t done very much on this album so far- to balance things out, although the track would still probably be the driving force of the album even if it wasn’t included. Overall, the sound from ‘The Call’ hasn’t changed much from ANGELUS APATRIDA’s style that has been displayed on their previous albums. It doesn’t do much to sound like the most unique Thrash band on the planet to attract newcomers, but at the same time it delivers exactly what Thrash fans- new and old- would expect from a good album set in the genre.


Tracklist

01. You Are Next - 5:04
02. At the Gates of Hell - 3:58
03. Violent Dawn - 3:07
04. It's Rising! - 3:14
05. Blood on the Snow - 5:21
06. Killer Instinct - 4:01
07. The Hope Is Gone - 4:24
08. Fresh Pleasure - 4:12
09. Still Corrupt - 3:57
10. Reborn - 7:16


Line-up

Víctor Valera- Drums, Vocals (backing)
David G. Álvarez- Guitars
José J. Izquierdo- Bass
Guillermo Izquierdo "Polako"- Vocals, Guitars


Website

www.angelusapatrida.com


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 7
Sound: 6
Total: 6.5 / 10


Buy the album here!