Deviating slightly from the science fiction themes of their first three albums, magnificently named Colorado thrashers Necropanther base their latest record, Betrayal (Self-Released), on a combination of Walter Hill‘s 1979 seminal classic The Warriors and Xenophon‘s Anabasis, the ancient Greek story from which The Warriors was originally adapted.
Having previously chosen The Terminator, Dune, and Logan’s Run for inspiration, the science fiction element might have been pushed somewhat into the background on Betrayal but the dystopian landscape of cult cinema remains firmly in focus. A story about a small group having to fight their way across enemy territory to get home is prime pickings for thrash metal and Necropanther don’t let the opportunity slip.
Featuring bassist/vocalist Marcus Corich and drummer Haakon Sjogren, two of the founding members of Havok, the Denver four-piece unleashes forty minutes of absolute savagery on eardrums and craniums everywhere. ‘One and Only’ kicks things off with slashing old-school riffs and furious rasping vocals from Paul Anop. The equally ferocious ‘Covenant’ is driven by Corich’s low-end roar and some seriously melodic hooks while ‘Breathe Evil’ switches between slower, brooding death/thrash metal and tremolo-picked black metal riffs.
‘If You Can Count’ and ‘Into Danger’ pile on the violence while ‘Revenants’ boasts a neck-wrenching mid-paced groove gallop and vocals that sound like a night spent on Satan’s toilet. ‘Wanderers’ features blasts melodic black metal among its chuggy rhythms while the slower crunch of ‘Furies’ is punctuated by bursts of thrashing rage, and ‘Don’t Stop For Death’ simply wants to kick your face off. ‘Out to the Sand’ combines the brutality of Slayer with some slower, languid riffing from Anop (who also upgrades to lead guitar for this album) and fellow axeman Joe Johnson before the album climaxes with its venomous title track.
With lyrics that shift between urban violence and ancient Greece, backwards guitar, harmonized whammy leads, and even a screwdriver, Betrayal is heavier, faster, and just as likely to smash you into pieces as a runaway subway train.
Can you dig it?
Buy the album here:
https://necropanther.bandcamp.com/album/betrayal
8 / 10
GARY ALCOCK