Disciples of War

I sought thrash metal and I got it! Coming straight from the Annihilator school of riffage, yet loading their music with politically charged lyrics, Athens-based thrashers Dreamlord channel their already-established metallic din into something more akin to Sacred Reich than anything else. After a slew of mediocre releases from my favourite sub-genre in 2019, leave it to the Greeks to emerge after a twelve (12!!) year hiatus and get me headbanging like it's 1986 again. Sophomore effort Disciples Of War is not perfect by any means, but it's an album displaying a band who are very comfortable in their own skin and are happy to churn out song after song of riff-centric thrash metal that's just what this reviewer ordered.

Opening track "Out For Blood" does everything right and sums up what's great about Dreamlord in one, concise, 5-minute package. The opening sample of a child saying 'I'm coming for you. I will find you. You're going to die' is genuinely disturbing; the rhythms range from ball-breaking speed to steamroller grooves; the structure is unconventional and the ending is climactic. A fantastic choice for an opener. The splendid production quality is also notable. I love that it doesn't try too hard to be ultra-heavy or sharp. It's contained, but raw enough to appeal to the majority of the thrash fanbase. This may not be a very vocal-based album, but Babis Paleogeorgos' shouts are more-than-suitable for the style, especially when backed up by gang-shouts.

Disciples Of War has serious replay value and an addictive quality due to its constantly shifting tempos and rhythms. And yet, nothing ever feels experimental or out-of-place. The momentum of  "Humanity Enslaved" drives on like a racecar but can switch to a half-time, Pantera-esque section at the drop of a hat. The majority of "Blinded Eyes" is at breakneck speed, yet the middle-section reverts to a menacing crawl. Moments like this litter the album, and I look forward to each and every one. In particular, the pounding, martial stomp of "The 11th Hour" has me headbanging so hard it hurts - in the same vein as Anthrax's "Keep It In The Family" or Overkill's "Horrorscope". The fist-pumping mania of "Infratricide" is irresistible, and "Outcast" has the best chorus on the disc. The only disappointment is the 6-minute instrumental "Act Of God". It's not bad, just inoffensive, a little pedestrian, and goes on for a touch too long.

Everything about this record makes me think of Sacred Reich. Dreamlord are just the Greek version. I'd call them a 'knockoff' or a 'bootleg' if they weren't ten times better than S.R. at the moment. The Phil Rind-esque vocal delivery; the liberal (but not intrusive) political lyrics; the accessible riffs; the carefree approach to songwriting... Basically, if you were disappointed by Awakening earlier this year, let the Greeks restore your faith in thrash. Disciples Of War might not make it into my top 30 of 2019, but in terms of thrash metal, it now holds a special place in my heart and I can't see me skipping much from this LP in the future. For their first album in 12 years, I really can't complain! Let's hope it sparks a more regular output from now on. A damn fine, solid slab of old-school thrash metal for all fans of the genre.