Customer Reviews

Darker Days Ahead

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Seventeen years ago (way back in 1989--before some of you were even born), Jesse Pintado (who would later join Napalm Death), and two members of Morbid Angel (David Vincent and Pete Sandoval) released "World Downfall" under the name Terrorizer. This release would rank the trio as one of grindcore's first, most important, seminal, and influential bands. Now, flash forward almost two decades later: Pintado and Sandoval have reunited, only this time enlisting the services of Morbid Angel and ex-Monstrosity bassist Tony Norman and vocalist Anthony Rezhawk, and, together, the four of them hammered out a sophomore release.

When they first formed, Terrorizer broke--okay, shattered--a great deal of ground in the metal world. Nowadays, however, they don't seem as intent on breaking ground as on shaking it. No, the new record (entitled "Darker Days Ahead") doesn't exactly sound fresh by today's standards, but there's really no death metal/grindcore ground remaining which hasn't already been conquered. Plus, you can't ask a band to be more original or innovative if they've virtually created a whole genre!

"DDA" is a bunch of immensely brutal and satisfying songs (minus the intro and outro) with blazing riffs, blasting drums, and deep, barking vocals. The music can occasionally be a little repetitive (the title track is compiled of only a single riff), but there's still more than enough power and energy in Pete's astounding drum performance and Jesse's speaker-destroying guitar parts to make this disc warrant carrying Terrorizer's name.

"Crematorium" and "Fallout" are two examples of songs which boast blistering guitar leads, slamming drums, several tempo changes ("Crematorium" actually slows down almost to a halt), and actually catchy choruses. "Doomed Forever" continues in this vein, and expertly alternates from a blindingly fast tempo which shoots by like a white, cacophonous blur to a slower, grinding riff. Other recommended tracks include the whirlwind of searing guitars and driving drums on "Nightmare," the earth-quaking "Legacy of Brutality," and "Victim of Greed," which begins with some catchy, repetitive, rumbling guitar noise before exploding into a scorching, full-on assault of the senses.

"Darker Days Ahead" doesn't expand on Terrorizer's sound, but there never has been a lot of room for variation in death/grind, anyways. This is a greatly enjoyable and satisfying ride which will leave no fan (except those who are the most insatiable) disappointed.

Did the Classic World Downfall need a follow-up, so many years after its initial release? No, but that does not mean that Darker Days Ahead is not a decent cd, in fact it's pretty excellent. The trademark Terrorizer guitar sound that the late Jesse Pintado (RIP) developed is fully evident here. As a whole the songs are longer than the firt cd. While I preferred Nausea's vocalist Oscar Garcia to the guy on this cd, the new guy actually has a pretty good voice and tries to sound like Oscar on some parts. Pete's drumming is incredible and this is just an excellent cd. A few disappointments, intro and outro are pretty cool, especially the outro, but only 10 songs round this cd out, as opposed to World Downfall's 16. Out of the 10 only a few are new, they redo Dead Shall Rise, basically a faster version with added lyrics and singing in certain parts and reworkings of older demo songs. But still that is o.k., because the majority of us have never heard the demo songs. Anyway it has the brutality you would expect from Terrorizer and has some catchy parts.

One comment: if you like Sinister and Morbid Angel, this album won't fail you.

I'm not comparing among the groups, but it's just to give an idea for those who are considering on this one. I don't like machine gun + chain saw style bashing death metals, I like this album because this one follows classical death metal ways. Besides, since it's in death metal category itself, it's already and enoughly fast and heavy. Asphyx's new album and this one give relief that death metal still has something to say, in the way that attracted me 20 years ago.

Jesse Pintado is a legend! I cried the day he passed away. This one is heavier than World Downfall. Also, a far better production. Pete Sandoval returns on drums :)