IMPALED NAZARENE

With Easter upon us, what better time for a review of "Pro Patria Finlandia" by Finland's blaspheming blackened thrash punks? Nobody does it quite like IMPALED NAZARENE, do they? Fifteen years on and the boys still attack with the viciousness and bloodlust of a rabid pit bull.

The band's ninth studio album offers no real surprises. The shrieking throat spew of Mika Luttinen continues to drip with hate, while that distinctive speed-thrashing guitar style cuts right to the bone. As a matter of fact, lead guitarist Tuomo Louhio proves his worth as a replacement for the late Teemu Raimoranta in that when he does whip out a solo it is quick and deadly.

The music itself is a continuation of the slightly (relative terms, folks) more developed and memorable material from "All That You Fear". Most importantly, that translates to a solid product with every ounce of misanthropic attitude that the members can collectively muster. Speed remains of paramount importance, the motoring bass and blasting drums powering these compositions with both surgical precision and reckless speed. Oftentimes it is a matter of breakneck tempos and decisive butchery, "Weapons to Tame a Land", "Something Sinister", "I Wage War", "Hate-Despise-Arrogance", and the traditional goat anthem, "Goat Sodomy", all representative of the band's harrowing approach. Then you've got "One Dead Nation Under God", which features a catchy chorus. Never fear though, the rage is as boundless as anything else on the album. "For Those Who Have Fallen" is as fierce and nerve jangling as they come too, but you will remember the chorus. Finally, The sound mix is noteworthy for the masterful balance of clarity with savageness, and a certain live energy that gives the album an extra kick in the ass.

IMPALED NAZARENE does not disappoint on "Pro Patria Finlandia". The boys sure do make a damn tasty black-thrash-punk milkshake.