Wraith / Black Knife / GraveRipper / Unholy Night – Faster than the Fucking Devil
Wise Blood Records
Release Date: 02/09/22
Running Time: 37:06
Review by Paul Hutchings
9/10
The resurgence of Blackened Thrash that was first delivered by those cheeky Geordies Venom way back in the early 1980’s shows no signs of stopping. With bands like Hellripper, Sadistic Force, Whipstriker and Midnight lacerating the Metal scene in recent months, this can only be a good thing if you like your Metal brought to you at speed and covered in filth.
This beauty screams Thrash from the opening chords to the last drum kick. A brilliant idea, four bands, one album and 37 minutes of snot driven ferocity that should get you punching around the living room and desperate to catch these monsters live.
“Faster than the Fucking Devil” opens with a trio from Indiana’s Wraith, who spare nothing in their brutal blasting. With a back catalogue well worth exploring, including the excellent 2021 release “Undo the Chains”, the four-piece smash, grab and run. ‘Demons of Doub’t sets the bar, gnarly, gutsy, and full of riffs. It’s gloriously unoriginal and totally absorbing.
Next up the blasphemers Black Knife. Hailing from Kentucky, this power trio hit the accelerator and drive at full speed against anything that gets in the way. The disgusting groove of Land of the Dead buries into the brain like a rabid worm, burying deep inside and lingering there, regardless of your wishes. Any band that can produce ‘Gouge the Eyes Out, Steal the Soul’ as a song certainly gets my vote and its another raging beast with high tempo and a feeling of losing control at any moment. Great stuff.
Wraith’s local brothers GraveRipper who may have less music in their locker, but they certainly don’t skimp with two longer tracks that demonstrate their confidence when going toe to toe with the other brutes here. ‘Mind Filled with Dread’ opens with a demonic roar and is followed by balls out heads down Metal at brutish speed. Thick riffs, snarling vocals and an unrepentant groove grab the attention and the throat and slam the head hard on the table.
Last and possibly least we have the very basic style of Russian duo Unholy Night whose production is lower in the mix than the other three. With Pavel Lepekha covering all instruments and Viktoria Adok bringing the unnerving screams, there’s plenty to like with the double rough and ready tracks here, especially the high-octane ‘Ancient Rites’ which sounds like a road drill at double time.
“Faster Than the Fucking Devil” is presented as “all killer, no filler.” I’d have to agree. Each band and each song has its own plusses, and very few negatives. It’s raw at times, but also carries an edge that you want with these bands. Polished high-end production is not the preference here at all. This is music designed to be played fast and sweaty in a perspiration-soaked venue where the walls are running. Aggressive, frenetic and above all just a fiery ball of passion. Long may it continue.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Demons of Doubt (Wraith)
02. (Call Me) The Destroyer (Wraith)
03. Seven Serpents (Wraith)
04. Land of the Dead (Black Knife)
05. Gouge the Eyes Out, Steal the Soul (Black Knife)
06. Satanic Commander (Black Knife)
07. Mind Filled with Dread (GraveRipper)
08. Night Frozen Black (GraveRipper)
09. Tomb of the Oppressor (GraveRipper)
10. Louder, Angrier (Unholy Night)
11. Ancient Rites (Unholy Night)
LINE-UP:
Wraith
Matt Sokol – Vocals / Guitars
Mike Szymendera – Drums
Chris Petkus – Bass
Jason Schultz – Leads
Black Knife
Hellwulv – Guitar / Vocals
Bast – Bass / Keys
Messer Meister – Drums
GraveRipper
Corey Parks – Guitar / Vocals
Chris Pilotte – Bass
Keegan Hrybyk – Lead Guitar
Jacob Lett – Drums
Unholy Night
Pavel Lepekha – All Instruments
Viktoria Adok – Vocals
LINKS:
Wraith:
Black Knife:
GraveRipper:
Unholy Night:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Paul Hutchings and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.