Horrendous - The Chills

There have been some really good death metal albums released this year. Where as I know what to expect from the likes of say Cannibal Corpse and Asphyx which have released good albums this year, it is the more 'unknown' ones that are taking me by surprise, one of which is Horrendous, with their debut album 'The Chills', which is a great display of raw force and chaos.

After the opening minutes of atmospheric lead work and synths in 'The Womb' which makes me think I am about to listen to an old black metal album you haven't heard before, suddenly the heavy work slams in and the lead riff I heard from the start begins to cut through like a rusty buzzsaw. I like how the lead work can alternate between a ringing echo at the front or just shred in the background which sometimes makes the playing come off disjointed when it isn't really trying to be. The tearing up riffs combined with the lead work bring a feeling of a cross between old school American death metal and Swedish death metal. Even the tone of the riffs have that balance.

This is helped by the drumming which for me comes across as the catchiest point on the album. They seem to command which direction the songs will go in terms of if they will blister through in say a Possessed way or just break down and roll along into a more catchier beat, akin to the likes of say Dismember or early Entombed. Songs like 'The Ritual' and 'The Somber (Desolate Winds)' are a perfect showcase of this.

Vocally, it brings more to mind of Swedish death metal the way there is that subtle agony in the growls. There are some moments there where I can really sense the pain in the voice, especially the way lines like 'Fatal Dreams' and 'Ripped To Shreds' are yelled out in their songs. Martin Van Drunen comes to mind quite a bit too but I like how the vocals also step away from that agony element and take on a more deep and rough approach that with a bit of echo to it makes it sound much more open and forceful.

I know what a black hole does but I don't know what the destruction would be like. Maybe this album gives off an idea. It might cause the Earth to shake, fires will break out and the sky will open up and suck everything up with a strong wind to the point that everything will be condensed and disappear into a beam of light. 'The Chills' is one of those death metal albums that portrays Armageddon in daylight, when everyone is awake to witness the end. Killer album.

Ikil