Translating roughly to “fallen angels”, the eponymously titled seventh album from Spanish thrashers Angelus Apatrida is another brutal barrage of sweat, riffs and fury. Once again, guitarist/vocalist Guillermo Izquierdo and his bass playing brother José J. Izquierdo are joined by second guitarist David G. Álvarez, and Victor Valera on drums, admirably retaining the same stable line-up now for close to twenty years.

With all the subtlety of a brick, Angelus Apatrida (Century Media) opens with ‘Indoctrinate’, a fast and frantic blast of energy that sounds like ‘Fucking Hostile’ by Pantera got drunk and lost in San Fransisco’s Bay Area sometime during the eighties. ‘Bleed the Crown’ and ‘The Age of Disinformation’ both carry that same distinctive Testament meets Exodus Bay Area sound, the former including some tasty double-kick work, the latter bolstered by some Iron Maiden style licks as the younger Izquierdo brother vomits a vicious warning about smartphones and fake news.

The Pantera influence re-emerges on ‘Rise or Fall’, while ‘Childhood’s End’ is another aggressive little neck-smasher with some welcome melodic touches to the vocals. Standout cut ‘We Stand Alone’ follows the standard but effective thrash groove of ‘Disposable Liberty’ with some good old fashioned gang vocals before ‘Through the Glass’, ‘Empire of Shame’, and the machine-gun attack of ‘Into the Well’ close the album in suitably violent style.

With some of their old power metal personality shining through the confrontational speed metal riffs and explosive rhythm section, Angelus Apatrida isn’t just a regular thrash and bash session but an outstanding combination of speed, aggression and melody. 

Buy the album here: https://angelusapatrida.lnk.to/AngelusApatridaID

7 / 10

GARY ALCOCK