Usurper - Cryptobeast
Earache Records - mosh289CD - 2004
By Philip Whitehouse
My first experience of Usurper was when they supported Cradle Of Filth on the Midian tour four years ago, and I remember coming away from their set quite disappointed. Despite their obvious proficiency as musicians, their blend of Bolt Thrower double-kick velocity and Celtic Frost's grim thrash brutality came across as rather lacklustre and uninspiring. So, you can imagine what a pleasant surprise it was, when I wearily slapped Cryptobeast into the player and immediately had the quasi-smug 'I already know this is going to be shite' smirk slapped off my face.
Within this latest platter, there is hyperspeed thrash rubbing shoulders with heavy-as-lead down-tempo doom passages (on the same song, 'Return Of The Werewolf', no less). There is a hymn to our favourite form of music, 'Kill For Metal', whose refrain practically rewires your central nervous system in order to make your head bang. Seriously, listen to this a couple of times and just try to stop yourself growling along with the 'Kill, kill, kill FOR METAL!' parts... There are guitar leads that manage to sound utterly old-school and yet fit perfectly into the sound created by Neil Kernon's thoroughly solid production job. There is even a mid-album instrumental track, 'Ectoplasm', that recalls King Diamond in it's mix of sinister serenity.
New vocalist Tyrantor makes his presence felt with a mix of roaring death vox, higher pitched screams, and a possibly record-breaking number of true metal 'Urrrghs' per verse, whilst returning original drummer Apocalyptic creates a whirlwind of double-kick beats and tom rolls. Okay, so the Celtic Frost influence is a tad pronounced, and the lyrical subject matter just on the whiffy side of cheesy, but when the songs are delivered with such an un-selfconscious, couldn't-give-a-fuck attitude, it's hard to hold things like that against Usurper.
7.5/10
Usurper Official Website
Earache Website
Earache Records - mosh289CD - 2004
By Philip Whitehouse
My first experience of Usurper was when they supported Cradle Of Filth on the Midian tour four years ago, and I remember coming away from their set quite disappointed. Despite their obvious proficiency as musicians, their blend of Bolt Thrower double-kick velocity and Celtic Frost's grim thrash brutality came across as rather lacklustre and uninspiring. So, you can imagine what a pleasant surprise it was, when I wearily slapped Cryptobeast into the player and immediately had the quasi-smug 'I already know this is going to be shite' smirk slapped off my face.
Within this latest platter, there is hyperspeed thrash rubbing shoulders with heavy-as-lead down-tempo doom passages (on the same song, 'Return Of The Werewolf', no less). There is a hymn to our favourite form of music, 'Kill For Metal', whose refrain practically rewires your central nervous system in order to make your head bang. Seriously, listen to this a couple of times and just try to stop yourself growling along with the 'Kill, kill, kill FOR METAL!' parts... There are guitar leads that manage to sound utterly old-school and yet fit perfectly into the sound created by Neil Kernon's thoroughly solid production job. There is even a mid-album instrumental track, 'Ectoplasm', that recalls King Diamond in it's mix of sinister serenity.
New vocalist Tyrantor makes his presence felt with a mix of roaring death vox, higher pitched screams, and a possibly record-breaking number of true metal 'Urrrghs' per verse, whilst returning original drummer Apocalyptic creates a whirlwind of double-kick beats and tom rolls. Okay, so the Celtic Frost influence is a tad pronounced, and the lyrical subject matter just on the whiffy side of cheesy, but when the songs are delivered with such an un-selfconscious, couldn't-give-a-fuck attitude, it's hard to hold things like that against Usurper.
7.5/10
Usurper Official Website
Earache Website
