TAETRE
Whew! I've got smoke pouring from my ears but I shall live to listen another day! As 2002 draws to a close and my head is lowered in disappointment that the year in Metal hasn't lived up to 2001's magnificent slate of releases, I run headlong into the long-awaited third offering from Death Metaller's, TAETRE. The band's previous releases have been extremely enjoyable and after having waited nearly three years for another go at it, they return with what I consider among the finest, pure Death Metal albums of 2002.Understandably, given the time we have all waited for another album from TAETRE, we should have our expectations elevated. Mine surely were and I am overjoyed to report that TAETRE have come through for the masses. The very DIMMU BORGIR sounding title shouldn't confuse anyone. This sounds nothing like the Norwegian king's whatsoever, rather this is just balls-out Death/Thrash Metal played at perpetual high-velocity and at a structurally unrelentingly pace. We talk often about 'riffy' albums, those that are dominated with all sorts of twisted, mangled riffs that seem to pull everything else in the music in tow. This is one of those types of efforts, where the focal point is driving, murderous guitars. TAETRE have cast aside what little melody they have been known to use in the past, gotten rid of the subtle niceties and just gone for the throat, creating a sodomizing 12-song blitzkrieg of butchering ferocity that fans of both Old School and modernized Death Metal are guaranteed to revel in for years to come.
Divine Misanthropic Madness was not an album I needed two or three listens to settle into. I was choked into it straight-away and the grip has yet to loosen. A dark shroud of gloominess is a constant presence with this release and TAETRE don't need slow, atmospheric breaks to created that ominous feel. They plunge headlong into fast and choppy, shredding riffs, the sort of which made this genre what it is today. This is one of those albums that could have been released 5-8 years ago as it borrows heavily from just that sort of traditional framework. While I still think this is unmistakably TAETRE, I can't help but be reminded of DARK ANGEL at times, SLAYER at others and AT THE GATES on occasion. One song crashes into the next without let-up and if there is a complaint from me its that the tracks, which average around 2 and a half minutes are just way too short given how good they are. There are too many good riffs here to let fly by in so brief a time.
There are few who admire this sort of fiery, evil and relentless Death/Thrash who will consider this album anything less than superb. I only wish it lasted longer and that we didn't have to wait so long for it to come out. Still, an elite release that deserves high praise and must be purchased at all costs.
