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Lords Of Destiny

Awakening (2018)
Rating: 8.5/10

We’re back on another New Wave Of Old School Thrash Metal trip with this Chinese quartet, who began life in 2007. The combo has certainly been quiet though, releasing just one EP (Age Of Overload) prior to this in 2017, but Lords Of Destiny is a reasonable thrash album that I’d happily recommend to anyone.

Thirty-six minutes of music are offered, which means we get nine solid tracks that build nicely from the introductory rumbles of the instrumental ‘Rise By Sin’. This opening track is well-measured and a touch intricate, although rather let down by the thin production, but things soon get under way in the speed department with the frantic ‘Deathlike Silence’ which opts for a very raw, almost South American-styled brand of thrash mixed with early Slayer.

That’s what I like about the album; there’s a genuine feel of primitive powers at work as the clan embarks upon savage bass licks, rugged drum patterns and fleeting, scurrying riffs which weave webs of complexity but above all express volatile lashings in abundance. Vocally, there’s a lo-fi rasp to drag us into the murkiness. I’m glad that the lyrics are sung in English, as we get to really appreciate the talents of this posse as they dabble with varying tempos to create, at times, a fusty Teutonic style too. Take for instance the melodious strains of ‘The Final Worship’, which simmers with such quality before the band resorts to infectious trad’ metal rumbling while also reminding me of Possessed circa The Eyes Of Horror EP (1987).

‘Black Future’ again displays levels of complexity but ups the speed. All hails to some of the bass playing on this opus too, those juddering strings refusing to play second fiddle to the guitar while the drums remain consistent in their battering. That’s even if the production – whether intentional or not (most likely not) – doesn’t allow each instrument to gleam. Because Lords Of Destiny lacks polish, we get that sepulchral, eerie air about proceedings, showcased on the grisly rush of ‘Savage Action’, which again features a killer solo. Closer ‘Inner Struggle’ goes even further, meanwhile, the solo wildly weaving its pattern before the classic Slayer-styled lashes come into focus as again the band are off on one of those raw, primitive journeys.

It’s really hard to highlight flaws on an album that is so quintessentially 80s in its style, and it is also rather refreshing to hear a record that doesn’t imitate the cartoon side of the genre. Instead, we get a rather serious, if at times grey and caustic composition that barks like old Sodom, and so hats off to vocalist Meng Li for those understated yet engaging snarls which ruse to override the rest of the instruments, the final result then being a rather ugly, tight and cutting debut of some quality.

Neil Arnold

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