Hellbutcher – Self-Titled
Reviewed By: Kenneth Gallant
Review Score: 9
From Metal Blade Records, Hellbutcher is a self-titled release of eight blistering tracks of black metal rage. Every track is infused with speedy aggro-fuelled riffs, and brings with it heaping amounts of thrash, speed metal and topping it all off with a blackened cherry. Now I might be mixing my descriptors with the desert menu in mind; however it’s sickly sweet music to this reviewer’s ears. Throughout this review I will be praising the work of Hellbutcher, so get used to it!
Let me start out by saying the cover art gets me in a big way. The Hellbutcher is garbed in hooded black leather and studded from head to toe. He brandishes his bloodied axe and stands before the black, ominous clouds of the day drawing into the night. If I walked into a record shop and saw this vinyl record on the shelf, I would drop to my knees and start worshipping The Hellbutcher. Of course, I’m saying this in jest, but it’s covers like these that have always attracted me to metal, no matter the sub-genre.
Now that we have established that, let’s dig deep into the songs. The opening number ‘The Sword Of Wrath’ unburdens slowly until it rips hard with speedy intensity and brings riffs that will singe your nose- hairs. The Hellbutcher lets out a vile scream and then we are off to the races. This is such a great way to open an album and it never lets up after that. The track ‘Perdition’ follows with a raucous of thrashy sounds and blistering speed. The pacing is relentless, but the drum work of Devastator steals the show, especially towards the end of the song.
The start of ‘Violent Destruction’ is all guitars ripping hard with a Toxic Holocaust vibe and vocals that would make Joel Grind proud. It’s a short track, but effective as hell and worth repeat because it sounds so bombastic. The next track ‘Hordes Of The Horned God’ brings some chaotic melody to start then the riffs erupt into inflammatory goodness right after. This is arguably the best track on the album featuring Necrophiliac (Dan G Andersson) on guitar and nailing those killer leads.
Soon after, ‘Death’s Rider’ roars along and brings with it a catchy chorus and infectious pacing. At times, it feels like the band purposely resurrected Lemmy to lead the charge. I can’t say I wouldn’t mind that happening and maybe this is what they had in mind when ‘Possessed By The Devil’s Flames’ erupts next. Certainly the Motorhead vibes continue, but the relentless pacing really gets me on this one. ‘Satan’s Power’ showcases Hellbutcher’s raspy tone vocally and features monstrous lyrics proclaiming Satan’s destructive reach upon the world. Again, it’s so incendiary and confrontational, but that’s what makes the black metal genre tick in the way it does. The album ends with the rousing ‘Inferno’s Rage’ ‘that doesn’t let up and is a song that boldly states brutal death is certain when the world is crumbled by all the forces of damnation. It’s a great way to end the album and prove that without a shadow of doubt Hellbutcher is here to stay.
In some ways it’s sad to see a band like Nifelheim go away, especially since I was a huge fan of their blackened thrash style. To this day, I consider Servants Of Darkness their best album, but after hearing the new Hellbutcher I might have to rethink that. This album brings back that evil sounding and proto-thrash style found in bands like Venom and Bathory, plus referencing bands like Motorhead and Iron Maiden for the guitar flourishes. The music revels in the unbridled enthusiasm Per Gustavsson brings to every band he fronts and this new entity is no exception.
The album’s hellish intensity and metallic mayhem help to forge a solid foundation for Hellbutcher, so as a black/thrash loving maniac I’m onboard for the ride.
Hellbutcher will see release on May 31st via Metal Blade Records.