TORTURE SQUAD

Hellbound

Wacken Records/ CD 2008

Every dog has it’s day. Soi t seems that Brazilian extremists from TORTURE SQUAD may enjoy nowadays their moments of glory. It’s true thet they’ve been around for more than 15 years. But without any doubts the breaking point in their career was victory in the prestigious Metal Battle at Wacken Open Air in 2007. As the result band signed deal with a label which is able – due to the distribution deal with SPV - to spread the deadly virus of TS music across whole Europe.

"Hellbound" welcomes us with symphonic introduction. So those who experienced their first metal fascinations in the golden era of late 80s and early 90s immediately will feel at home. Aggressive and fast riffs of "Living For The Kill" may partly explain why the metalheads from the land of coffee were able to seduce German maniacs. Frankly speaking KREATOR influence are quite obvious here. Band rages like Mille’s crew, and Mr Rodrigues’ vocals do not differ much from Petrozza’s screams. Of course we have some lower growls here. They strongly emphasize the death metal connections. "The Beast Within" is as fast as the previous track. Thrashin’ guitar fury is Powerem by highly precise drumming of Amilcar Christofaro. It seems like that drummer have drunk too many guarana drinks. He’s mainly responsible for putting up speed to the limits. Just listen to „Man Behind The Mask” where he devastates his drum kit like a crazy bulldozer driver in the wild Amazon jungle. The only guitar player Rafael Augusto Lopes effectively devastates our ears with his AK 47. There are some solos, too. But they’re really nothing special.

Fans of old school thrash metal won’t feel disappointed. But certainly the songs from „Hellhound” won’t enter the thrash/death hall of fame. Also the quality of riffs is not as high as those created by Hanneman/King, and Cavalera/Kisser duos. If I had to name the biggest problem here. I’d say that fifth full-lenght TS album is too homogeneous. Some songs sound too simillar to each other. On one side it’s good, because band stays lokal to it’s roots. But on the other hand it’d be nice to taste more diversed emotions. Of course we have some refreshing elements here. But it seems that there might be a bit more. For example the beginning of a more rhythmic "In The Cyberwar” – with good, old SEPULTURA echoes immediately becomes more interesting. Melodic intro and acoustic interlude in „The Twilight of Mankind" make that song my favourite one. I regret that we do not have more such interesting moments during those 51 minutes. KRISIUN has no reasons to worry about. 'Southern Storm "and" Assassination " are the Premium segment products. But TORTURE SQUAD show the ability to become one of the important names not only on Brazilian thrash/death scene.

8/12