WARCRY – Revenge In Blood

Warcry is a German quintet that plays some very hard and heavy old school Thrash Metal. If you are a fan of the 80’s Metal sound of bands such as Venom, Manowar, and Mercyful Fate, then Warcry should be a welcome treat. These guys are the complete Thrash package, even using such creative pseudonyms as “The Axeman” on guitar and “Roaring Thunder” on bass. Their simple yet strong sound is a delight to listen to, and true to their namesake, the cry of war is overflowing within this album.

Revenge In Blood is the band’s third album. Warcy was founded in 2001 under the original name of Heiligs Blechle by lead vocalist The Almighty and The Axeman, both of which are the driving force behind the music on this album. The first track “Pure Force Of Steel” begins with a loud bellowing scream from The Almighty; setting the tone for the entire album. The Almighty does a fantastic job of switching from rough Death Metal style vocals to high-pitched Kai Hansen-esque screams throughout each track. He uses each style effectively, trying not to overuse one or the other.

Regarding the dual guitar work from The Axeman and Gravewarrior; they easily create a pure Thrash Metal sound. Each track is riff-driven, and their work is solid and heavy throughout. There is an excellent balance between the two guitarists and a clear distinction between each one’s work. There is also enough distinct melody within each track for the album not to sound repetitive, which can be apparent in some Thrash albums. One of the better tracks that displays the guitar efforts is “Awakening The Cemetery”, which has a short acoustic intro, and contains some of the best riffs heard on the entire album.

There are some shortcomings on the album as well. The most noticeable being the production quality. The bass and drums actually sound like they were recorded on a used tape recorder in someone’s basement. They are very muffled and distorted. As a result, the album sounds poorly mixed and the drums and bass drown out many of the guitar riffs.

A clear bright spot on this album is the cover of Omen’s “Deathrider”, which actually features a duet with Omen lead vocalist George Call. The song is done with a lot of class and it is a fitting tribute to one of the not-so-widely-known founders of Thrash Metal.

Overall, Revenge In Blood is a classic album full of great riffs and melodies. There is no question these guys have an abundance of skill and talent, however, the downside may be their musical style could be 25 years too late. Some fans may not take them seriously because of the old school sound, nevertheless, Warcry is truly a force to be reckoned with and chances are they will not be taken without a fight.