ASSASSIN – Skullblast

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7.0

• Bands:
  ASSASSIN
• Duration: 00:25:57
• Available from: 08/11/2024
• Label:

• Massacre Records

Streaming not yet available

After the timid “Bestia Immundis” of four years ago, Assassin are back in action together with their thrash metal of clear Teutonic school, aboard that solid tank commanded by the everlasting Sodom, Destruction and the tracked company. Led by guitarist Scholli (present in the band's 'highest' moment and signed by “The Upcoming Terror” in 1987), the Dusseldorf quintet started pounding their fists again with an EP, the first in their career, in which greater incisiveness it makes us jump out of our chairs compared to the previous and more static work.
And, if on the last occasion, we pointed the finger at Ingo Bajonczak's performance, this time we must instead recognize the merits of the powerful singer from Mönchengladbach, good at harmonizing the vocal lines more, managing to make the work even more intense six strings set up by Scholli himself and Stefano 'Steve' Smura, at work in the present “Skullblast” in place of Frank Blackfire, now busy full time with Sodom, but still included in the official line-up; we will therefore see if Smura's presence will have a sequel or if it was an impromptu test.
Returning to “Skullblast” and its very eloquent and explosive cover, Assassin have decided to reduce the global scope of their work, in favor of five more targeted and ultimately successful shots – with the partial exception of the last one song in the set list, which we will talk about shortly.
We immediately sense that something has changed for the better thanks to the opener: we often talk about 'shot' and “Blood For Blood” stands out precisely for this characteristic, with groove and granitic epicness at the service of serial outbursts, where the refrain it is only the culmination of a continuous electrical discharge.
For its part, the German combo sharpens the blade further with the title track, perhaps less impactful in the chorus, but certainly more grim in the verses, while with “In And Out By The Tide” and “Cut Your (Own) Throat” instead we return to the classic rhythms that have always characterized Assassin while waiting for the final gem.
Scholli and his associates have in fact given their version of the great classic “The Green Manalishi” by Fleetwood Mac (later brought to global success by Judas Priest), weighing it down perhaps a little too much, to tell the truth, with the final result of a cover half successful, thanks to a production problem right at the end of the song (it will have to be verified whether it will also be present on the actual final product in LP or CD version), with a sound bordering on distinction.
For the rest, we repeat ourselves: the newest Assassin has certainly given a glow of awakening, waiting for a next long-distance appointment.