Relentless Night

Chainbreäker from Austria have with "Relentless Night" their somophore album at the start, released via Metal on Metal Records. Visually, the quartet has already improved significantly (as far as the cover is concerned), I personally think that the cover often decides whether you want to listen to an album or not, so there is already a plus point for this.

It starts with a short keyboard intro, which could have come from a horror movie of the 8o's and then the four Austrians start with "Nightstalker" directly. A straightforward mixture of speed and thrash metal that catches the ear and stays there. Cool, catchy riffs and melodic solos form the heart of the whole. "Vile Hounds" impresses with vicious vocals and riffs (especially at the beginning, which almost sound like death metal). The next tracks are quite fast songs, too with hypnotic, repetitive, fast riffs. A bit of Iron Maiden comes out here and there. "Relentless Night" starts off Motörhead-like, only to turn into a fast speed killer song that is one of the catchiest songs on the album. Again, the singer sounds extremely hateful, which adds atmosphere to the song. The cool attitude is further enhanced by the gang shouts. With "The Axe" the guys take the axe out of the closet and poach in Slayer territory. Paired with ingenious solos, it also becomes a highlight, cool track!!! Also the remaining songs can keep the high level of the other tracks, also here the one or other time Iron Maiden and Slayer is paid homage, but I personally disturb this in any way.

What particularly excites me about the CD are, as already mentioned a few times, the combination of melodic solos, paired with energetic, driving riffs, which always show musical finesse. The aggressiveness that singer Christoph puts on the day, makes the whole thing a round thing. A good mixture of speed, thrash and classic heavy metal, which one likes to listen to more often.
Production-wise, the somewhat wooden drums bother me a bit, but otherwise I find everything arranged very appealing, so here also rather a plus point.

As a conclusion I would say, who goes for Speed/Thrash Metal and stands on singers in the style of Agent Steel, Ranger or Vulture, can access here without hesitation. Cool album that does not reinvent the wheel, but is very diverting and entertaining.

Rating: 8,7 out of 10 axes