CD Review: Angelus Apatrida - Evil Unleashed / Give 'em War (re-issue)

Artist: Angelus Apatrida
Title: Evil Unleashed / Give 'em War
Genre: Thrash Metal
Release Date: 18th November 2013
Label: Century Media Records

Album Review

ANGELUS APATRIDA was formed in 2000 in the Spanish town of Albacete by singer Alberto Gayoso, Alberto Izquierdo, José J. Izquierdo and Alberto Izquierdo. Though the city of Albacete is world famous for the manufacturing of knives there is no local scene for heavy metal musicians. So ANGELUS APATRIDA had to work hard to make a name for them, resulting in a first demo one year after their formation. The demo was called ‘Lost in the Realms of Orchinodaemon’, after the release of named demo Singer Alberto Gayoso and Drummer Alberto Izquierdo left the Band for reasons unknown to the public (meaning every source I could find). The searching and finding of new band members resulted in a change of musical direction, so that the former power metal band now started to play thrash metal, the 2003 EP ‘Unknown Human Being’ marked the change of style. In 2003 ANGELUS APATRIDA attended a battle of the bands and won a contract over three records at Red Dragon Records.

They debuted in the summer of 2006 with ‘Evil Unleashed’, the album actually was recorded two years prior but due to problems with their record company the output was not released to the public, the band rerecorded the entire album and released the material single-handedly. After the self-released debut ANGELUS APATRIDA played their asses off tour after tour with bands like SEPULTURA and DESTRUCTION just to name a few. The following album named ‘Give ‘em War’ was released in 2007, once again a self-release by the band. Due to good sales figures the Spaniards were able to play in the neighbouring countries and could furthermore get a record deal with German record label Century Media. In 2009 they toured as support of ARCH ENEMY through Spain and Portugal. In 2010 the renegade angels from Spain went back to the studio with producer Daniel Cardoso to gather new material for their next album called ‘Clockworks’ which they published in June of the same year. In the autumn of 2010 the band started a tour through Europe as support of SKELETON WITCH and WARBRINGER. Two years after that the next emission ‘The Call’ was unleashed culminating in spot 14 of the Spanish album charts. Afterwards the guys got on a tour with 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, both bands published a split-7” EP together.

ANGELUS APATRIDA is a band that, in my honest opinion, cannot deny their roots with every hearing the feeling in me grew that I am listening to a really tough power metal outfit rather than a thrash band. Okay well it’s the same with the early work of ANTHRAX and bands like MORDRED. After a long time of hearing it again and again I can put my finger on it, it’s the vocals that remind me more of the more melodic bands than the Bay Area thrash bands of the early 80`s. By all means I don’t want to let it sound harsh, I love melodic metal and feel very much at home listening to this Spanish guys coming from a city famous for knives (which is very metal). When I started listening to thrash metal I discovered that most of the bands involved in that style didn`t have a real singer but rather a shouter or someone without great technique.

James Hetfield of METALLICA were never meant to be a singer and at one time was almost (at own request) replaced by John Bush of ARMORED SAINT not to mention that the band decided against another singer. So, here we are with a thrash band with a vocalist that can actually sing, okay the guys is no DIO but he manages to sound fitting for the songs and therefore is probably the best singer he can be. Okay so conclusion of this review of two dozen songs of ANGELUS APATRIDA is:
The riffs are tough, on fire and menacing as hell
The vocals are a like a hammer to the head, a nice one but a hammer nonetheless
The rhythm section is the grounding for the Beasts throne
And it’s totally worth to put this record in your player and unleash this beast called ‘Give ‘Em War’.


Tracklist

Line- up (Present Day)

Guillermo Izquierdo – Vocals
David G. Álvarez – Guitar
José J. Izquierdo – Bass
Victor Valera – Drums

Line-up (over the Years)
Alberto Gayoso – Vocals (2000 - 2002)
Alberto Izquierdo – Drums (2000 - 2002)


Website

http://www.angelusapatrida.com / https://www.facebook.com/angelusapatrida


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 7
Sound: 8
Extras: -
Total: 7.5 / 10