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 Новый альбом нидерландских трэшеров Legion of the Damned представляет собой всё тот же забористый и мощный дэт-трэш, каковой от них и ждали. И с одной стороны, нареканий к нему не найти — всё злобно, сердито, профессионально. А с другой...
А с другой стороны альбому не хватает хитовости и оригинальных ходов. Кто-то может справедливо отметить: "Парень, это дэтуха в лучших традициях 80-90-х, какое разнообразие? Качает — и ладно!", и будет, в принципе, почти прав. Почти. Кач качем, злоба злобой, агрессия агрессией, но не стоит забывать о композиторских качествах. А что отличает хорошего композитора от плохого? Наверно, одним из главных различий будет оригинальный подход с сочинительству материала, при этом без выхода за рамки выбранного направления (для самых идейных "металлеров").
К сожалению, альбом, который начинается с зубодробительной, по-настоящему хитовой открывашки "Howling for Armageddon" (невнятное симфо-интро опустим), теряет весь былой напор, и остальные песни идут просто как приложение к первому молотильному номеру с отличными риффами и интересной мелодичной подложкой, которая, не выходя на передний план, умудряется не тонуть в тяжести звучания злобных гитар и рычащего (крутого!) экстрим-вокала (недалеко ушедшего от "трэшевого харша").
И хочу отметить, что песни-то остальные неплохи, но они не запоминаются, идут монолитом, как нечто цельное, и нет каких-либо внятных границ (что в дэте является извечной проблемой), позволяющих почувствовать каждую композицию по отдельности. НО! Всё это идёт до тех пор, пока не настаёт черёд весьма необычного номера "Doom Priest" — меланхоличная, мрачная, но при этом забористая и отдающая последним альбомом Keep of Kalessin, который, как мы знаем, вобрал тонну и тележку разных стилей "чёрной металлургии". Так и здесь: медленное и почти думовое начало переходит в зубодробительный дэт-металд на трэш-металлической основе, не забывающи возвращаться при этом в то самое мрачное начало.
Альбом хорош и представляет собой качественный дэт-трэш в лучших его традициях, но тонет в проходном материале и вторичности композиций, вызывая неподдельную зевоту на протяжении большей своей части.
7 из 10, и 1 балл накинут за столь полюбившиеся "Howling for Armageddon" и "Doom Preist". |
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We declare war on god and king, on a church and state that collide
Thrive in chaos and revolution, apocalyptic cleansing
Choose to adhere to lucifer, shining flame of light
Howling for Armageddon
Vanguard of the antichrist
Jackal breed born from hades
Insurrection and tyrannicide
Harbringers of a bloody tide
Driven by apocalyptic hate
Bent on bringing the terror state
Insurrection and tyrannicide
Harbringers of a bloody tide
Driven by apocalyptic hate
Bent on bringing the terror state
Hear the wolves of the antichrist
How armageddon will soon rise
driven by apocalyptic belief
Extermination by the chaos elite
We are the architects of terror, conceived with total hate
Scheming in secrecy, to overthrow the state
Diabolical nihilism, welcomes our violent tidings
Manifesting on the winds of chaos, hell and horror are riding
Witness the horror of infernal machines,
Tear apart our enemies with hellish devices
We relish in our passion for annihilation,
As we see the stone walls crumble
Howling for Armageddon
Howling for Armageddon
Howling for Armageddon
3. Black Baron
Lost crusader, noble blood, born for death
Ancestry, of satan's kim
Warlike, heritage, merciless
Servant, of the tsar
Black baron
(the) devil's scourge
Black baron
Ride out
Courageous, cruel, lust for war
Restoration, of the fallen throne
Merciless, executioners, bleeding corpse
Clouds of dust, signal, what is to come
Black baron
(the) devil's scourge
Black baron
Ride out
Demonesses grin, corpses being speared
Eyeballs from sockets, limbs revealing bone
Malefic demon gaze, when torturing the damned
Severed heads and flayed skims, scorpions feast on flesh
The baron's hordes are riding, trampling hoofs on barren grounds
Omens of death and torment, from hells of eastern lore
Emulating mahakala, cruel buddhist god of war
For the blessings of shambhala, slaughter for a divine cause
Omens of death and torment, from hells of eastern lore
Emulating mahakala, cruel buddhist god of war
Last khan, insane divine, no remorse
Chastising those who serve (him)
Shaman sadist, monk of death, infernally blessed
Bones and charmes, adorn his (naked) chest
Black baron
(the) devil's scourge
Black baron
Ride out
Demonesses grin, corpses being speared
Eyeballs from sockets, limbs revealing bone
Malefic demon gaze, when torturing the damned
Severed heads and flayed skims, scorpions feast on flesh
Final charge of the baron, trampling hoofs on barren grounds
Omens of death and torment, from hells of eastern lore
Emulating mahakala, wielding his cossack sword
His hordes are being slaughtered, his terror is no more
4. Mountain Wolves Under a Crescent Moon
Wild mountain harbors a violent breed,
eager for blood and hard to defeat
Ferocious warriors raised on barren grounds,
raid enemy lands for centuries
Dagger in hand they rather fight till death,
than suffer dishonor through surrender
Steeped so deep in a culture of war,
opression cannot, root out defiance
Proclaimed restoration of imperial rule
(and) insurrection spreads like wildfire
The southern thrust of the northern conqueror
is met with determination grim
Armoured columns moving further forward,
the capital stronghold to retake
Ambushed in a hurrican of machine gun fire
a hail of mortars and grenades
Disgraceful defeat and burned columns,
tarnished power and might
The colossal armies pouring in by the thousands,
to hammer down those who defy
Wings of death stalk the skies,
and fire rains from furious beaks
Ravishing rain of metallic hail,
as the relentless power is released
Mountain wolves under a crescent moon
Mountain wolves under a crescent moon
Massive shelling of a city under siege,
reduced to smoldering ruins
Hungry dogs feed on the corpses in the street,
as black smoke fills the city skies
Death and destruction, ignite the insurrection,
resurrection of (old) rivalries
Rogue combatants operate from deep cover,
armed with dagger and RPG'S
Mountain wolves
Mountain wolves
Heretic warriors in a frenzied rage, face each day with deadly dawn
Warlike clans of mountain wolves, swear the oath of blood for blood
Mountain wolves
Mountain wolves
5. Ravenous Abominations
Acolytes of abysmal ones, Desciples of the elder gods
Seek the forbidden wisdom of the black arts
Devotees of the sunken shrine,
Ruthless seekers of the undivine
Burned at the stake for their unspeakable rites
Nyarla-tho-tep will seal your fate
Witness the ravenous abominations
We, chant for, the evil gods,
To, call forth, their messenger
Sing, the hymns, to yog-sothoth,
And await, the void, of azathoth
Learn from the dark messenger
Nyarla-tho-tep is he who walks
In the shadow of the elder ones
Black shepherd of the perverted flock
Initiation in the hidden current
Teach us in forgotten tongues
Nyarla-tho-tep will seal your fate
Witness the ravenous abominations
We, chant for, the evil gods,
To, call forth, their messenger
Sing, the hymns, to yog-sothoth,
And await, the void, of azathoth
The black shape resides over the nocturnal sabbath
Wicked flutes and thundering drums played by invisible hands
Heretics indulging in these blasphemous rites
Insane laughter and rapturous moans, as the orgies commence
Wanton lust, on the altars
Infamies and incantations
Crucifixions to celebrate
The coming of the, abominations
Spectral powers from beyond the gates
Oneiric portals to horrific entities
The black shape presides over the nocturnal sabbath
Wicked flutes and thundering drums played by invisible hands
Heretics indulging in these blasphemous rites
Insane laughter and rapturous moans, as the orgies commence
Acrolytes of abysmal ones
Disciples of the elder gods
Seek the forbidden wisdom of the black arts
Devotees of the sunken shrine,
Ruthless seekers of the undivine
Burned at the stake for their unspeakable rites
Nyarla-tho-tep will seal your fate
Witness the ravenous abominations
We, chant for, the evil gods,
To, call forth, their messenger
Sing, the hymns, to yog-sothoth,
And await, the void, of azathoth
6. Doom Priest
"The wretched pray, in vain for mercy to their lord.
Fateful messengers of the horrible pestilence, companions to the
apparition of imminent doom, prophesied omens of-foretold death.
The liar's tongue speaks that damnation is at hand. As the ravens
feed on the carcasses of the damned"
Visions of a world in apocalyptic decay
Among the dwellers of this plague infested land
Believe that god has turned his back on man
The horsemen come to bring about the end
Black plague, punishment devine
Signs of doom, soothsayers prevail
Revelation of the coming end
Doom priest, messiah of death
World of endless suffering, death in manifold ways
Endtime hymns are sung, clinging to their faith
Soothsayers appear, drunk with mystic dreams
Promising the end, through apocalyptic visions
Black plague, punishment devine
Signs of doom, soothsayers prevail
Revelation of the coming end,
Doom priest, messiah of death
Damnation seems foretold when the plague descends
Suffering death and disease, no cross build withstand
Once you are infected painful tumours start to grow
Necrosis of the flesh, and the skin will turn to black
Vomiting blood, the promise of certain death
Human decimation, by the horrible pestilence
The preacher of doom proudly wears damnation's crown
Soothsayers speak in tongues, of all suffering to come down
Necrosis of the flesh, and the skin will turn to black
Vomiting blood, the promise of certain death
Pestilential eradication
Human decimation
Death you can't escape
Die in horrible pains
Visions of a world in apocalyptic decay
Among the dwellers of this plague infested land
Believe that god has turned his back on man
The horsemen come to bring about the end
Black plague, punishment devine
Signs of doom, soothsayers prevail
Revelation of the coming end,
Doom priest, messiah of death
7. Summon All Hate
Boundless hate boiling up from the dark abyss
Unleash your vengeful fury, from the blackest pits
Lord of the southern winds rises, herald of famine and death
Horrible manifestation, strikes my foes with fear
SUMMON ALL HATE!
HATE!
SUMMON ALL HATE!
Pazuzu ancient god of evil, open his demonic jaws
Bent on reaping souls, snatch them with his claws
Face contorted by malice, reveals a malevolent grin
Putrid stench of decay, as Pazuzu spreads his wings
SUMMON ALL HATE!
HATE!
SUMMON ALL HATE!
Once evoked, with forgotten spells
Beyond the gates of Babylon
Bring our enemies famine and brought
Unleashed your desert storms
SUMMON ALL HATE!
WE SUMMON ALL HATE!
WE SUMMON ALL HATE!
WE UNLEASH PAZUZU'S WRATH!
SUMMON ALL HATE!
WE SUMMON ALL HATE!
WE SUMMON ALL HATE!
Plagues of locusts to be unleashed
Upon those who don't revere
Dreaded omens of impending evil
The black swarms descending
SUMMON ALL HATE!
WE SUMMON ALL HATE!
WE SUMMON ALL HATE!
WE UNLEASH PAZUZU'S WRATH!
Pazuzu ancient god of evil, open his demonic jaws
Bent on reaping souls, snatch them with his claws
Face contorted by malice, reveals a malevolent grin
Putrid stench of decay, as Pazuzu spreads his wings
SUMMON ALL HATE!
WE SUMMON ALL HATE!
WE SUMMON ALL HATE!
SUMMON ALL HATE!
WE SUMMON ALL HATE!
WE SUMMON ALL HATE!
WE UNLEASH PAZUZU'S WRATH!
8. Morbid Death
Lifeless body left in a corner, death has graced her jaded face
Her legs are spread unceremoniously, murder disguised as suicide
After satisfaction of his carnal obsessions, he choked the life out of her
Submitting her to his vicious assault, victim left with open thighs
Dim city lights in a chilling night, the rapist is on the loose again
Seducing women with gentle voice, not aware of his true intent
Having gained entry into her house he will catch his victim unsuspect
For an ordeal of rape and murder, the strangled on the hunt again
Morbid death by strangled fate
Showing no mercy for his unwitting victims, silencing them without remorse
Excercising absolute power, assailant seized by his (uncontrollable) urge
Abusing the victim without hesitation, serial rapist with a throbbing pulse
Forced entry and strangulation, the molested corpse lies defiled
Morbid death by strangled fate
Feeding on the pledges of his crying victims,
their final fate they soon will meet
Strangulation with their own garments,
choosing to prey on the weak
Excercising absolute power, assailant seized by his (uncontrollable) urge
Showing no mercy for his unwitting victims, silencing them without remorse
Abusing the victim without hesitation, serial rapist with a throbbing pulse
Forced entry and strangulation, defiling the molested corpse
Morbid death by strangled fate
Morbid death by strangled fate
9. Bury Me in a Nameless Grave
Proud to march on a path of glory, ready to cross the barbwire
Crawling closer to enemy positions under ranking machine gun fire
Enter the trenches of the enemy, bent on killing all in sight
Thrill of the fight causes exhilaration, despite all the comrades that are lost
Death awaits
Death awaits
On the fields of war
Stalemate on the western front, as hundreds of thousands are condemned to the trenches
Massive bombardments of the fortifications, makes the earth tremble and shake
Forced to stay in underground bunkers, due to continues shelling
Tormented by swollen limbs and the freezing cold in these rat infested holes
Under the banner of war, troops are amassed, for the assault
Wave after wave, meeting death, in no-mans land
Many will die, by bullets or gas, bayonet or mines
Enter the jaws, of mechanized death
Buried in a nameless grave
Under a hail of mass destruction
Buried in a nameless grave
Buried in a nameless grave
Under a hail of mass destruction
Buried in a nameless grave
Under the banner of war, troops are amassed, for the assault
Wave after wave, meeting death, in no-mans land
Many will die, by bullets or gas, bayonet or mines
Enter the jaws, of mechanized death
Buried in a nameless grave
Under a hail of mass destruction
Buried in a nameless grave
Buried in a nameless grave
Under a hail of mass destruction
Buried in a nameless grave
Onward unto battle
Storm the enemy lines
Kill them without mercy
Death is a pleasure....charge!
Orders are giving to charge, thousands will face an imminent death
As the bright light of glory fades, baptism under heavy fire
Machine gun mowing down those too close, poison gas kills the rest
Shrapnels tears the flesh und uniforms, and another corpse in the dirt
Tremendous killing at an industrial pace, as the fields are litered with debris
Battalions wiped out by machine gun fire and heavy artillery rain
There is no way out of this living hell, as you slowly driven insane
Massive slaughter makes evident, the futile existence of mankind
10. Armalite Assassin
Walls collapse, buildings crushed,
the bomb attack has shattered all the glass
Many dead, decapitated, heads are severed bodies mutilated
Fire round after round
Another sermon for the dead
...for the dead
Communal hatred, religious divide, secessionist dreams and imperial pride
Riots ensure, surge of rage, tensions rise to inflammable heights
Sectarian murder, violent responds, outrage caused by excessive force
Random violence, streets of terror, the cycle of destruction never ends
Blood screams for blood
Retaliation sanctioned death
Blood screams for blood
Hooded executioners, on the loose
Armalite assassin
Sudden burst of automatic fire
Armalite assassin
Speeding off, in the night
Fire round after round
Another sermon for the dead
Funeral wreaths, for a coffin, mourning after mourning fuels revenge
Abduction and sadistic torture, victims killed by psychopathic gangs
Death squads, are on the prowl, ready to eliminate the traitors
Operatives, on wipe out missions, thwarting further terrorist attempts
Blood screams for blood
Retaliation sanctioned death
Blood screams for blood
Hooded executioners, on the loose
11. Strike of the Apocalypse
The scroll with seven seals, is soon to be unveiled
The lamb will open his first four, as man turned his back on god
The beginning of the end, abandon all hope for mankind
World weltering in sin,
sodom forever lives and the path of cain we coose to walk
Damnation to mankind,
the demiurg in tears, in grief of what man has become
Human existence cursed,
with disease and war, gathering the chariots of doom
Tribulation has begun,
four horsemen riding out, maligned savior bringing death
Strike of the apocalypse
The second coming is impending
Strike of the apocalypse
The second coming is impending
The first seal, white horse appears, rider with bow and crown
Conquest is his name, lord antichrist, usurpation and death
The second seal, red horse appears with a sword that demands blood
War is his name, strife will rise, brothers shed eachother's blood
World weltering in sin,
sodom forever lives and the path of cain we coose to walk
Damnation to mankind,
the demiurg in tears, in grief of what man has become
Human existence cursed,
with disease and war, gathering the chariots of doom
Tribulation has begun,
four horsemen riding out, maligned savior bringing death
The third seal, the black horse appears, misery has shuck
Famine his name, (mass) starvation brought, by locust plagues and drought
The fourth seal, a pale horse appears, wielding his ruthless scythe
Death he is called, the underworld, hades power over earth