Denmark is usually known for its neutral stance when it comes to matters of warfare, however this Danish quartet have declared a brutal sonic assault on anyone brave enough to take them on. Returning with their seventh studio album, aptly named the album The 7th Offensive. They could perhaps they could be accused of being a little tacky, with song titles like ‘In the Name Of Massacration’ and ‘Napalm Alarm’ it really is hard to take this band at their word, but the music really speaks for itself with this album.
With a name like Panzerchrist you would rightly expect the rolling of tanks to be heavily infused within the music, and this hits you right from the start, furious drumming interjected with snare rolls really throw you straight into the chaos of the battlefield. Hints of blackened harmonies rise through the music at points adding a real sense of evil to the sound however choosing to separate these as their own section does make the songs sound a little disjointed at points. The album is a real split between fairly standard songs, and catchy riffs particularly in ‘Mass attack Of The Lychantrope Legion’ and ‘Kill For Revenge’. Finishing on ‘Pig Parade’, sounds of war and pig squeals are underpinned by monks chanting in an odd homage to their band name although if any political comment is meant on this album, it is lost under the poor attempt at humor.
Despite sonically representing the devastating aftermath of a nail bomb attack, this album takes time to grow before it can be really appreciated it for what it is. This is no timeless classic, but a must for any collection.
7/10
Caitlin Smith