Ravens Creed  

The Power

Doomentia Records 2012

The UK's new thrash overlords Ravens Creed have finally delivered on the promise of their Nestless and Wild 7" which takes the music to a new level.  It is immediately evident from the title-track that they have decided on a heavier, more crushing approach to writing their riffs.  This has that heavy rhythmic approach that Boltthrower does so well, yet it is taken from a thrash angle.  The second half of the song picks up the pace and shreds right through meaty flesh.  Al's vocals are as abrasive as ever!  Bashed In keeps the momentum moving forward and delivered a speedy assault that leaves you battered and bruised.  The song is caught somewhere between death and thrash yet has a decidedly thrash dynamic to it.  Meanwhile, Bloody Luxury has a galloping feel for its first half and then drops into beastly groove.  The main riff on Wiccan Wanderers actually sounds like a thrashed up black metal riff.  However War Cauldron ups the ante with an aggressive pace from the outset and a bruising groove towards its latter stages.  Later on, Atomic Fist spits out violent riffs and hammering drums that are relentless in their aggression, like some of the fastest Slayer songs, but with a rougher, rawer sounds.  Picking back up on the high-speed annihilation of humanity is Horse Fucker which then shifts gears for a traditional thrash chug and a choppy blast of riffs and drums.  The Slaughter House however is a headbanging traditional thrash beast with a monstrous bounce.  I can feel my head being forced to bang as the main riff chugs along.  One thing you will note, Ravens Creed wastes to no extraneous time with every song being short, yet deadly intense.  The Power is an album that gets to the point and pummels and batters you with a nonstop assortment of thrashing heaviness.  At times I am reminded of Morbid Saint and others of a thrashed up Boltthrower.  With The Power, Ravens Creed have created an album that is heavy and brutal and crosses some boundaries yet makes those other influences sound like they are hallmarks of thrash.  The Power lives up to its name and will leave you a lifeless corpse.