IMPIETY

There is no denying the impact that IMPIETY has had on the world of blackened thrash/death and war metal for all these years. Coming out of Singapore, who would have thought that they'd be leaders of the underground movement, albeit maybe not always recognized for it until years later? The trail they've left is one of scorched earth and body parts, no question about it. I'll admit that I wasn't blown away by 2008's "Dominator" EP, although still found it to be a solid release. As a way to tide fans over until the next full-length it worked just fine. And it's not like "Terroreign: Apocalyptic Armageddon Command" is a vastly different animal or that IMPIETY has evolved per se; I just thought the EP was missing something. Having now abused my ears on multiple occasions with the new full-length, I can safely say that whatever it was that may have been missing is back with a vengeance. This one's a goddamn face-melter!

The short of it is that "Terroreign: Apocalyptic Armageddon Command" is about as good as it gets when it comes to blackened 'n thrashing war metal. It is brutal, unrelenting, and memorable in a way that only a song called "The Black Fuck" can be. Lyrics are spat and vomited, drum kits are destroyed, and riffs hack and slash like concertina-wire tornado. The idea is pure annihilation, plain and simple. Ain't a damn bit of filler either, and that includes an "Intro" and "Outro" — composed by BEHERIT's Nuclear Holocausto Vengeance — that just have to be there; that's all there is to it. The highlights are many, including "Vientos de Holocausto" and a song called "Atomic Angel Assault" that is just murderous. Well, at least you'll think so…until you hear "Terroreign", which sports a riff that is disgustingly ripping. The pause between the main riff while the blast beats rain down upon the listener is satisfyingly unsettling, to say the least. As if the riff firestorm weren't enough, Rangel Arroyo then pierces exposed flesh and dive bombs innocent villagers with his screaming solos. It just makes sense to include a cover of MORBID's "My Dark Subconscious", doesn't it?

The room is a crowded one (hell, it's pungent and filled with smoke too),yet space is still made for identifiable song structuring — you know, like enough room to spit out the chorus to "Bestial to the Bone", along with all the blood and phlegm that has accumulated in the back of your throat. IMPIETY never leaves quietly. You didn't know? Damn you kids and your rock 'n roll!