SILIUS – Hell Awakening

The title of Silius’s first album is Hell Awakening, and if that proclamation is true, then undoubtedly it is the hundreds of riffs on the album that is kicking Hell’s denizens out of bed. Riffs, riffs, and more riffs, enough for every soul in purgatory, connected in clever and adrenaline-spiking ways. Jump ahead to track eight “Message In A Molotov” if you are eager to have the top of your head taken off, but really any entry point among this eleven song slab would put you right in the thick of an aural assault. There aren’t any first-album jitters detectable on Hell Awakening; from the very first bars of opener “Seven Demons” Silius gives the impression that they are a veteran band at the top of their game while displaying an exuberance and energy that jaded campaigners sometimes lack.

he songs are fully formed, with none of the demo-ish quality that sometimes mars Thrash debuts. Axmen Haui (lead) and Mex riff, shred and solo with tandem proficiency, and the rhythm section of Martin on bass and drummer Ralph keep the engine in high gear. Vocalist Matthias lends a sleazy edge to the proceedings; his strong vocals remarkably clear in the maelstrom of such a loud, fast assault. The musicianship is so sharp throughout, with so many unexpected twists and changes that the tracks seem too rich and varied to pack into short song structures. There’s only one track on Hell Awakening, the dark and brooding “Kingdom Of Betrayal” that exceeds five minutes, while “Immortalize” is barely over three minutes but contains enough riffery to fill a whole album on its own.  Hell Awakens is a contender for the Thrash debut of the year—if not the overall Metal debut of the year.

TUNE INTO METALEXPRESSRADIO.COM at NOON & MIDNIGHT (EST) / 6:00 & 18:00 (CET) TO HEAR THE BEST TRACKS FROM THIS UPCOMING RELEASE!!!