suicidal angels sanctify the darkness

Released: 20 November 2009 Label: Nuclear Blast

I first stumbled across this bunch of Greek thrashers accidentally when I saw them supporting death metal legends Massacre towards the end of 2007 and was impressed enough with their Schizophrenia era Sepultura-style riffing and their level of enthusiasm despite the paucity of the crowd to pick up a copy of their debut album Eternal Domination.

Suicidal Angels are definitely a band from the heavier end of the thrash spectrum with clear influence from Slayer’s mid-period, early Sepultura, Germany’s “big three” and even occasionally the likes of Demolition Hammer and Incubus / Opprobrium and Sanctify the Darkness carries on largely where Eternal Domination left off with its mix of straight forward old-school thrash riffs, muscular drumming and hoarse vocals that almost cross over into death metal territory at times. It’s fair to say that sometimes some of the riffs are a little over-familiar (it’s possible to sing much of Slayer’s Reborn over Inquisition) but there’s a sense of honesty and enjoyment throughout Sanctify the Darkness that overrides its distinct lack of originality.

In all honesty Sanctify the Darkness isn’t a Reign In Blood, an Extreme Aggressions or a Beneath the Remains but it is a very enjoyable “retro-thrash” album in its own right, having said that though I still think Suicidal Angels are best experienced in a badly lit venue with a pint of overpriced cider in hand.

by Neil Woodfin