Artist: Assaulter
Country: Australia
Label: High Roller Records / Iron Bonehead Productions / Pulverized Records
Formats: LP / CD
Year: 2008
This first full-length release for this Australian duo is a collaboration between German labels Iron Bonehead Productions and High Roller Records. The CD version was released a few months later on Pulverized Records from Singapore. An introduction is not quite necessary as you can read it in the review of their “Subservience” 7” EP, elsewhere on these pages.
Not very different from their first 7” this full-length rips through some shreeky guitar riffs, thundering yet sloppy drums and rather high-pitched vocals. Still, the music balances between the Australian black/thrash scene and the European bands. Yet, the leads and the (sometimes rather) longdrawn melodies and leads reminds a bit of the American epic heavy metal bands of the 80’s. The main difference with the 7” is the production which is less dark and damp, the sound on the album is a lot more shrill and higher in tone. This might turn off a few but actually this fits to the music and the overall atmosphere of the album.
As the conclusion for “Subservience” already said, loads of the well-praised Australian hordes are long gone, but there is new hope! Together with Trench Hell this Assaulter is ready to take over the throne.
