WARBRINGER
Warbringer - War Without End (Century Media Records) 2008
1. "Total War" (4:30)
2. "Systematic Genocide" (3:49)
3. "Dread Command" (2:52)
4. "Hell On Earth" (3:17)
5. "At The Crack Of Doom" (3:40)
6. "Beneath The Waves" (3:49)
7. "Instruments Of Torture" (3:36)
8. "Shoot To Kill" (3:13)
9. "Born Of The Ruins" (3:46)
10 . "Combat Shock" (3:52)
11. "A Dead Current" (3:02)
12. instrumental [hidden at end of track 11]
Warbringer are yet another in the endless onslaught of retro thrash bands in the U.S. In the last 2000’s. “War Without End” is the band’s first full length release and was produced and recorded by legendary thrash producer Bill Metoyer (Slayer, Dark Angel, D.R.I., Deliverance, Tourniquet, etc.). Musically, the band is similar to many of the other thrash bands making noise right now, blending the Teutonic sounds of Kreator and Sodom with the Bay Area sounds of Exodus and Slayer, with a small nod to the mosh ethic of S.O.D.or Anthrax.
The band is quite proficient at what they do. Grab your patch clad denim vest, Dark Angel t-shirt, and mosh it up! Warbringer are thrash for thrash sake and proud of it. They have a retro sound and even a vintage sounding recording. While the recording is clear and the drums sound triggered, the overarall recording is still raw and thrashy. Warbringer are not tuning down their guitars two or three full steps to achieve a heavy sound, but rather write fast, pummeling riffs that indeed are heavy. The vocals also have that classic thrash sound and are mostly barked out in the classic speed metal yell like Slayer, Dark Angel, Sodom, etc.
Where Warbringer fall flat on their debut is in the lack of variety in the songwriting and the fact that they sound much like every other retro thrash band on the scene right now. It took me several listens to begin to separate the songs and begin to appreciate them on their own, as opposed to just hearing one long speed metal conglomerate. Unless anyone listening is a tried and true fan of speed and thrash metal, the subtleties that separate the riffs, songs, and techniques may be totally lost. In other words, the songs lack the charisma and flare that make them stand out unless you specifically look for them. For the most part this is due to the fact that each and every song is played at breakneck speed. This seems to be the case with many of the young thrash bands right now. It’s thrash for thrash sake while hooks, individuality and songwriting takes a backseat. In time, as this band matures, I am sure the songwriting will offer more variety and hook.
“War Without End” is a sufficient thrash metal album from a promising new band and a good debut from a band that will surely get better with each new release.