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INFANTRY
Terminal Society

Self-released (2022)
Rating: 5/10

Beginning like some sort of Slayer off-cut, ‘Disposer Of Immortality’ comes out in fiery fashion striking hard and fast to introduce us to the second outing from this Netherlands clan of death thrashers.

Infantry, fronted by Ronald van Baren, has been around since 2006 but they would have probably slipped under the radar of many simply due to having a rather generic, although very energetic, sound. I don’t personally like Ronald’s vocals, but even if you subtract them from this opus it’s still a rather nonspecific thrash outburst where you can cherry-pick any track and find a rather bland level of aggression.

At times the drums feel too mechanical, and although the riffs are okay-ish just being a few tracks in this record really starts to test the nerves. ‘Submission’ is standard, contemporary groove-based thrash, ‘Destination: Wonderland’ (featuring guest vocals from Hellevaerder’s Mirander Visser) rattles along with no identity, and ‘Under Destruction’ follows suit and shares common ground.

It’s difficult to get excited about such a formulaic brand of thrash. Sure, there are melodious segments and Arjen Kleiss’s leads are competent and complimented by the sturdy rhythms of Luuk Steemers, but those vocal barks just grate on me.

If I was forced to pick favourite tracks then possibly ‘Hail The Victorious’, which isn’t afraid to shift gears but still remains belligerent, and ‘Inner Warfare’ also hammers violently. However, something so mundane is a difficult thing to examine, and this sort of macho, war-torn metal leaves me craving a moments peace to escape its masculine barrages.

Neil Arnold

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