It’s difficult to explain exactly what it is about this death metal band that has me so captivated. Being considered brutal is much easier than having your own musical identity, but Blood Red Throne have managed to do both as their career continues to go on. Ever since I heard Altered Genesis in all it’s thick, groovy, bass-heavy glory, I’ve been an immediate fan. Having acquired the entire back catalogue of the band, there is definitely a lot to appreciate, but Altered Genesis still stands as the band’s finest hour in my ears. So when I learned that Come Death was slated to be released this year, I was extremely stoked. In short, if you are half as familiar with the band as I am, you need to buy this. For all the uninitiated, it’s time for a violent wake up call.

One of the components of Blood Red Throne that sets them apart from other death metal bands is not the technical prowess of the members (that seems to be quite the norm these blazing, technical-laced days), but how they choose to display it. Tempos shift a lot here, but it always seems natural, as opposed to jarring and forced, like we see in so many other bands of this ilk. Former Emperor guitarist Tchort and co-axeman Død still manages to come up with very sick riffs, while one of the best bassists in metal, Erlend Caspersen provides an impenetrable groove along with drummer Anders Haave. Thankfully, the band isn’t afraid to lay back and let Caspersen steal the show with his skills once in a while. Check out the melodies he lays down towards the tail end of Rebirth in Blood and in the speedy taps of Taste of God. As for Mr. Hustler’s replacement, Vald, he is strikingly similar, even by extreme metal standards. Honestly, aside from the black metal shrieks that his predecessor rarely ever dabbled in, you would have to be a liar to say there is a significant difference in the styles between the two. I haven’t been this satisfied with a vocal replacement since Joe Kayser took over for Skinless.

Stylistically, if you take modern day Cannibal Corpse, cut out some of the technicality, add in a pinch of the black metal influence that Tchort picked up in Emperor , and put it all on top of a solid base of Floridian death metal, you have something that would sound akin to these Norwegian monsters. So, how does this all come together? Do the songs stay interesting? Do they fucking rule? For the majority of the album, the answer is hell yes. While there are plenty of blastbeats and riffs driven by them, Blood Red Throne does not use them as a crutch; instead managing to make several different tempos work for them in their own way. Slaying The Lamb has galloping double bass and aggressive galloping riffs to accompany them. Also, there are just straightforward, albeit speedy, double bass patterns that are the easiest and most fun to headbang to. It’s as if the band knows that any rhythmic style can get boring if it is overused, and choose to explore different tempos in order to remedy the problem.

Riff-wise, the two guitarists manage to incorporate all the staples of death metal songwriting with skill. Blackened tremolo (Deranged Assassin), thrashing aggression (Guttural Screams), and simple yet effective chugging ( Rebirth In Blood) are all part of the bloody palette that the songs are based on. The only complaint I can think of is that some of the songs tend to outstay their welcome towards the end of the album. The highlight of the second half is the cover of Disincarnated, which was originally written by Gorguts. One has to question the point of a death metal band covering another one, but nonetheless, it manages to fit in well with the overall picture.

The production of this album gives off a slightly colder, more sterile feel than the ultra-thick heaviness of Altered Genesis. The guitars sound a bit thinner, while the drums and vocals received a slight push up front. Thankfully, they still leave plenty of room for Caspersen to prove his value in the band’s overall sound, as he delivers a characteristically impressive bass performance. The sound still manages to suit them, and is not distracting in the least. Especially since, as a brutal death metal album, it really only has one feeling and tone throughout its entirety. Not that someone who has a basic understanding of metal’s sub-genres should expect anything else, as extreme metal of this ilk tends to focus in and only do a few things very well. No bright, uplifting melodies will be found here; neither will any emotion that isn’t somehow connected to calculated, ceaseless rage. But that is what death metal is all about, and Blood Red Throne never let it slip their mind.

Note: Below is a video for "Taste of God". In time the video may become outdated and fail to play.