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TORMENTER
Prophetic Deceiver

EBM (2014)
Rating: 8.5/10

Tormenter is an old school thrash quintet from the San Gabriel Valley in California who formed in 2007. The band released an EP in the form of Assault From Beyond The Grave in 2008, with a debut album, Pulse Of Terror, following in 2010. A second EP, Phantom Time, emerged in 2013 and now we have Tormenter’s second full-length, Prophetic Deceiver.

Usually when I get presented with these sorts of albums I try to guess whether it’s going to sound like Slayer, Metallica, Anthrax, Exodus, Overkill or Megadeth. However, in this case Tormenter doesn’t really sound like any of the bands mentioned.

This is simply because they’ve been clever enough to implement several influences with their sound. The end result is a rather melodic, mid-tempo thrash workout featuring some half-decent vocal rasps from Carlos Rodelo, and a nice guitar sound which reminds me heavily of the late 80s when numerous bands such as Whiplash adopted a cleaner, more melodious sound.

Thankfully the vocals do give the album that extra bite, and there are some excellent leads and riffs throughout from Jahir Funes and Joey Cazarez to the point that Tormenter becomes a very accessible act but with a gnarly aggression that has more in common with the likes of Destruction. Where the album really separates itself from the rest is via its nature to experiment, though, and there are some rather cosy melodic strains from the off with ‘Snakes In The Throne Room’ and the cut ’n’ thrust jerk of ‘Hanging From A Noose’.

It’s only natural that Tormenter still has that American influence, however, but to be honest it’s a rather unpredictable affair which is why the album has really grown on me. Although not jarring to the point of lack of comprehension, Tormenter plays a clever style of thrash metal where the bass of Kory Alvarez basically flirts with the catchy drum hooks of Tomas Bonilla. All the while the vocals remain reasonably venomous and comfortable with the ever-changing tempos beneath.

The title track is a prime example of the band’s impressive experimentation where the bass playfully nips at the general rhythm, but the drums also showcase a real technical ability too and at times there is an almost stark arrangement where mere vocal, bass and drum are in cohorts before a traditional heavy metal guitar chug and lead enters the fray.

I guess it would be unfair to state that Tormenter has a slight hardcore stance at times, but then again there are also healthy sprigs of Britishness in some of the passages. My only slight issue is that at times the actual rhythm guitars are not prominent enough, and so the album lacks an overall crunch which would have worked extremely well alongside those unusual progressive moments like on the fantastic instrumental ‘C.P.R.’ and equally innovate ‘Critical Stasis’. For the thrasher that likes his metal intricate but not over-befuddling though, Tormenter’s sophomore record is one that should provide enough twists and turns to entertain, and what’s even more impressive is the fact the band is so prolific in churning out high quality thrash mastery, and long may it continue.

Neil Arnold

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