Hammer of Intransigence

Heresiarch were founded in 2008 in New Zealand, a country which entered the map of extreme music especially the last few years with bands like Witchrist and Diocletian. This EP does not deviate from the musical direction one would expect, offering 22 minutes of brute black/death violence.

In the one-minute intro, some distant cries can be heard and also a siren of emergency, warning the listener about the sonic attack that is about to follow. The tracks that succed it are very fast, with sharp riffs that pierce the brain and create an atmosphere of lurking danger. The structure is very tight, while the drums sound infallible and set the tempo with military discipline. The only exception is the last track that is characterized by longer mid-tempo parts and an outburst in the middle, proving that Heresiarch can perform as well in less bpm.

The accuracy of the musical performance is impressive and a token of great skill, while the vocals complete perfectly the audio havoc. Production is much clearer than anyone could expect, but this was the only way of obtaining a comprehensible output. Regarding the lyrics, they are available only for "Intransigent" and aesthetically complement the image I created for the musical content. I could liken it to a wounded beast, which destroys everything in its path, spreading pain and despair.

Although during the first listen I felt a little confused by the power and the chaotic nature of the release, gradually the scenery began to clear up. "Hammer of Intransigence" is one of the most dynamic releases I have heard lately but despite its proven cruelty, some ideas were uninspired and repetitive. Surely it is a decent effort, but I wanted something more. Nevertheless, I await with interest their next steps in order to see if they will follow the same pathway or try a different musical approach.

Originally written for: The Lair of Storfeth