ARTILLERY – My Blood

It was as if the past two years flew by faster than the speed of light for the Danish band Artillery. At least fans didn’t have to wait another decade for a new album, as these veteran guys have unleashed another thrashy smack under the new group’s format. My Blood (or Mi Sangre) as the opening track suggests, runs under the same path as its predecessor, When Death Comes, and it’s practically at the same level.  However, its heaviness is even more powerful and the sound production improved matters quite well.

Even if Artillery will probably neither reach the level of intensity nor the sense of class of the ’80s, their current style of Thrash Metal still can be called technical and progressive, especially when the heart and soul of the band via the images of the Stutzer brothers are still managing the tip of the scythe. That is why, as if the years haven’t done a thing, the band’s reachable diverse music has remained practically the same (aside from minor modern elements).  That fact didn’t hurt their ’80s Metal heritage, which has been infused in order to keep the material in the spirit of the present. The perfected melodic Arabian scales, whether electric or acoustic, are still alive and breathing while the tempo shifts are still as large as those that keep on creating havoc in listeners’ ears.

The influence of new vocalist Soren Adamsen gave the Artillery picture a slight turn into classier realms, thus turning the material to become more diverse. The guy’s amazing vocal talent, as a voice of a more Heavy / Power Metal nature, brought the band additional melody that enhanced some of the band’s songs. Even with attempts to be a little rough from time to time, he brought glory to sections that the vocalists before him might haven’t succeeded in providing. The best mixture between melodic vocals and rough edges were on some of the star tracks such as “End Of Eternity” and “Death Is An Illusion”.

My Blood also presents some well configured themes. Besides the known Thrash and war themes that will surely ignite every thrasher worldwide (such as the amazing “Thrasher”, scorching “Dark Days”, and the single “Warrior Blood”), Artillery turned their attention to even more spiritual subjects surrounding religion, personal beliefs, and every day life’s endeavors. “End Of Eternity” and “Death Is An Illusion” pretty much provide a solid idea about the meaning of life from its composers and lyrical writers.

With this new release, Artillery show time and time again that they have high standards as a veteran band in the ever-changing Metal environment. While not surrendering to the newer elements that were inserted into Thrash Metal, their new material was forged under the same spirit that guided the band through their many years. The only thing that did change was the production quality, which turned out even stronger. My Blood is a great release, although not quite as golden as Fear Of Tomorrow or Terror Squad — yet, it lives and breathes great Thrash Metal.

Tracklist

1. Mi Sangre (The Blood Song)
2. Monster
3. Dark Days
4. Death Is An Illusion
5. Ain’t Giving In
6. Prelude To Madness
7. Thrasher
8. Warrior Blood
9. Concealed In The Dark
10. End Of Eternity
11. The Great

Band

Søren Nico Adamsen – Vocals
Michael Stützer – Guitar
Morten Stützer – Guitar
Peter Thorslund – Bass
Carsten Nielsen – Drums