Here we have a band that I have been personally been following for a
good amount of time from the beginning. They were the one of the first
wave of bands to hit in the early 90’s as a death metal band. Over the
years they grew and grew big. One of the main boys Peter was busy
growing and producing some of the most phat death metal records of all
time. The band split up in the early 2000’s just to bring it all back
again and with great force. The Arrival was them coming back and
stretching their wings. Now they are back with Virus and are here
simply to pummel the listener with great death metal you can tap your
foot to. They did not lose a beat at all. This record is fierce and
strong to a death metal listeners ear.
They open it with an “Intro”. Then “Warpath” goes on to start the
deathly beheading. “Scrutinized” turns up the thrashing and the guitars
just slay. Very cool quality death thrash with attitude and booming
oblivion. The vocals are as coarse and forceful as ever almost
bordering on black metal vocals. Every song seems to have a good catch
to it and definitely takes the listener on a heavy duty ride.
“Fearless” slows down a bit and adds the creepy keys that give it the
atmosphere they have been known to whip out here and there. “Craving
For Another Killing” picks it all back up and goes down the maniacal
thrashing zone that all of us thrashers will love to death. I’m still
sitting here after weeks of listening going HOLY SHIT!
They slow it a bit more on the following track and concentrate on the
real heavy pounding riffs. We get to “A Thousand Lies” and see the band
taking it to a different level of mellow to start the song. That track
then kicks in the more straight ahead power as the guitars amp up and
then again they take it to more anthem like slower parts. “Incised
Before I’ve Ceased” also goes more for the chunky riffing and then
dabbling in more atmospheric sounds while killing the listener with the
heavy with machinegun drumming. “Blooddrenched” picks the seriously
heavy duty crazy thrashing to my delight.
“Compulsive Psychosis” is one of the more catchy songs that have a few
twists and turns to keep the listener on his or her toes. “Living To
Die” closes the record with more experimenting that the band needs to
do to keep it fresh. More melodic’s are offered up in this song and
sees the band branching out showing that they can do more than just
death thrash.
