The Risen Dread – Night Hag
The Risen Dread – Night Hag
Wormholedeath
Release Date: 28/01/22
Running Time: 54:00
Review by Paul Hutchings
8/10
This is 54 minutes of sheer angst and driven rage. Welcome to the debut album from The Risen Dread, formed in Dublin, Ireland in 2018. Even those with the smallest modicum of knowledge about the Emerald Isle will surely have an appreciation as to the origins of the name of the band, especially in the current times when the Irish government appears to have gone to extraordinary steps in locking their people down – one wonders about the impact of the existential dread amongst the population.
Within seconds of opening track ‘Psychoses’, you immediately get the idea that this is one rabid dog that you are dealing with. It’s explosive, groove ridden and pulverising. The riffs are angular and feral, the pace relentlessly driven, and the vocals summoned up from the depths of Satan’s mansions.
Having survived the initial onslaught, it’s a matter of “brace, brace” as the next 50 minutes are no less punishing. The sheer battery that hits you on ‘Silent Disease’ is laced with some delicious melodies that provide some purification amid the maelstrom that explodes around you. There is a blistering drumming galore, deep pulverising bass lines and a range of vocals that varies from demonic doom to screaming frenzied ‘core’ style. It all adds up to one ferocious frenzy which should appeal a huge range of metal fans, albeit it might not be right up the street of Stone Broken fans.
Immerse yourself deeper into the album and you’ll find gem after gem of bionic power. There’s enough energy here to power a small city. There’s the groove of ‘Obsession’ with a definite Lamb of God riff, the brooding darkness of ‘Sound of the Unknown’ or the bristling fury of ‘Fallen’ which echoes the bruising malevolence of early Devildriver. Chilling air raid sirens open ‘White Night’, quickly followed by industrial drumming and riffing which is maintained throughout, on a track that features a guest solo from none other than Sepultura’s Andreas Kisser. And if that isn’t a surprise, then the completely different delivery of the title track which features the keyboard talents of Renato Zanuto should floor you right at the end.
Make no mistake, this isn’t some bunch of angry dudes battering hell out of their instruments. This is highly crafted and solidly delivered music with more variation than might have been expected. ‘Night Tag’ is a highly developed and at times bludgeoning debut which is consistently impressive throughout.
‘Sound Of The Unknown’ (Official Video)
TRACKLISTING:
01. Psychoses
02. Silent Disease
03. Bury Me
04. Obsession
05. Sound Of The Unknown
06. Fallen
07. Deceiver
08. White Night Feat. Andreas Kisser
09. Coward’s 9
10. Lazzaretto
11. The Night Hag (Featuring Renato Zanuto)
LINE-UP:
William Ribeiro – Guitar
Marco Feltrin – Vocals
Mat Maher – Bass
Colum Cleary – Drums
LINKS:
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