Denial of Creation

How can one not like a band that has chosen their band name based on the legendary Gothic 2 video game? If not FROM Software had come around the corner with their Souls series that would have still been my favorite RPG of all time. Another fact that immediately made me turn my head is that these guys are from my beloved little home country Austria.

That would not really mean anything in case the music on offer is boring or bland. However, I am happy to report that these guys have produced an album that is not only one of the best Austrian Metal records ever recorded but easily stands its ground against international peers. The basis are very sharp Thrash riffs that are accompanied by some glorious lead guitars giving the whole music an epic and uplifting feeling. Each song has its respective trademark chords that are varied and often repeated with small twists to give each track a very special character. The crunchy rhythm guitars are representing a perfect counterbalance for the sweepingly epic harmonies and melodies that are responsible for the great atmosphere to be found on this record.

The drumming is straight-forward and while there are a lot of faster double-beat sections and a lot of details like fills or rhythm changes to highlight certain parts it never feels nervous or overly chaotic. The band has put a lot of emphasis on presenting stringent songs and a nicely flowing album. While the instrumentation is top notch personal egos have to take a back-seat with the songs being put front and center.

Most tracks have memorable refrains helping the music to be immediately accessible without coming across being too simplistic. The hooks are embedded in the epic soundscape that is building the background. A few of the songs have a more BM feeling but the straight-forward catchiness of Thrash Metal is always present.

Singer Markus has done an impressive job belting out the lyrics in a strong and convincing manner. His style is quite aggressive but his pronunciation is clear helping the listener to understand what the texts are all about. His tone is brutal but this is no senseless screaming our shouting but just a good example of how extreme vocals should be delivered.

The production job is also fantastic with a lot of punch. Music as atmospheric as this should always get a well-balanced mix and I am happy to report that this has been the case on “Denial of Creation”. Every instrument and detail is crystal clear and no detail is buried in the mix.

I am happy about discovering another band proving that there is some quality music coming out of Austria. Every fan of epic and melodic Thrash Metal with a blackish touch should absolutely check this band out.