Artist: Diabolos Dust
Title: Ruins Of Mankind
Genre: Thrash Metal
Release Date: 28th October 2011
Label: Massacre Records
Album Review
DIABOLOS DUST’S debut album surfaced almost a year ago, three years after the band’s inception. However, it was difficult to find legions of fans and PR because it was an independent release. Now, a year later, DUST has found support with Massacre Records who are releasing their album with new artwork and a fresh outlook on Thrash Metal. From the sound of things, DIABOLOS DUST take more of the stripped down route of how Thrash is today; things are not played at ‘over the top’ speeds with harsh, barking vocals that try to imitate SLAYER or EXODUS. No… one could say that ‘Ruins Of Mankind’ is actually quite groovy and pleasant to listen to. Amongst chugging, buzzing guitars that sound almost more like Sludge Metal on a track like ‘Creatures’, there is lengthy, soulful storytelling vocals that mirror the 80s attitude of Metal with groups like DANZIG and JUDAS PRIEST. Since the vocals are almost more spoken word than singing, it makes the music seem even slower. Things pick up a bit more on ‘Blood Red Sky’, as the sound is even thicker, and therefore heavier, along with the vocals which bellow along, but with the heavier outlet, they tend to be a bit more obscured compared to the slower tracks and don’t stand out as much.
‘Out Of Time’ takes a different approach, focusing on more melodic guitar bits that are complex, but enjoyable to listen to as opposed to just riffs chugging along over and over. While the song does include lots of parts like this (this is, after all, DUST’S main music structure), the softer parts allow the vocals to shine through even more, and they sound especially potent during lengthy pauses of silence. Listeners will almost think they are hearing two different bands because the melodic opening is so much more different than the churning closer, which is closer of what fans will have heard earlier on the album so far. A track like ‘The Mirror’ focuses on the guitars with the vocals mostly performing on a clean level, achieving a ‘group vocal’ tone that is a bit deceiving since there is only one vocalist in the group. Oddly enough, it sounds a bit like MASTODON, or at least compared to their recent works like ‘The Hunter.’ ‘The Mirror’ is probably the heaviest track on the album as one can tell from the heavy, chugging rhythms overall from the guitars, bass, and drums which is different from the “slow ride” that most of the other tracks took fans on. However, those looking for the most intriguing solo would enjoy the epic that is on ‘Never Surrender’, which features some of the most complex work DIABOLOS DUST has done to date. Overall, some fans might consider this a bit “slow” for their tastes in Thrash, but fans of older, more rhythmic Metal will enjoy the gritty undertones this German-based band has to offer.
Tracklist
01. Ruins Of Mankind - 5:50
02. Fading To Grey - 4:23
03. Blood Red Sky - 3:53
04. Judgment Day - 4:47
05. Creatures - 5:13
06. Slave - 4:05
07. Out Of Time - 5:51
08. Defender - 5:03
09. In Vain - 5:39
10. The Mirror - 4:19
11. Never Surrender - 4:07
Line-up
Roland Zehrer - Bass
Stefan Fesser - Drums
Thoni Lini - Guitars
Jürgen Dachl - Vocals
Website
http://www.diabolosdust.de/
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 7
Total: 7.5 / 10
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