These days, thrash metal can take on many forms, and because of it, has spawned many bands within the genre that haven’t truly separated themselves from the pack.  Like many relatively new bands within the genre, Scotland’s Achren is looking for a big break.  After winning the 2010 Bloodstock Metal 2 the Masses, the momentum for the quartet has spilled into their debut album The Forgotten King.

Achren’s style of thrash metal incorporates elements of black metal, with the results being mixed.  With the style that they play, it is important to make the most impact in the shortest time, and with the longest track just under the five minute mark (the title track), Achren does just that.  The vocals are somewhere between black and death metal in terms of sound and intensity while the guitars provide decent thrash riffs and guitar solos.  The drumming is more than capable of taking charge to keep things at a fast pace (the beginning to “Darkest Day”), yet is also able to compliment the other elements within the band’s sound.  Given the nature of thrash metal in general though, sensibility, in terms of language and volume, is something that Achren runs over…repeatedly, as a song called “Fuck it Hard” proves.  Like most thrash metal bands (and this goes for just about any metal band in any genre) though, Achren does have the near impossible task of coming up with something truly original.  The laugh on a couple of tracks, most notable on “Darkest Day” and “Manuel’s Mile,”  sounds rather mechanical and lacks the spirit needed to achieve what the band was intending.  Those flaws aside, Achren does show some talent and immense potential to be something more.

Achren’s style of thrash metal is not entirely new, but their dedication to the craft has given them a chance to let people know about them.  On The Forgotten King, listeners will have a chance to hear what most of the people who were at Bloodstock in 2010 already know: that Achren is more than capable of handling their own instruments while blasting ear drums with great frequency.

TRACK LISTING

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*Comments:

1.   Impaled
2.  The Way of the Twilight
     or the Aura of Flies
3.  Bastards on the Gallows or
     Bastards on the Rack
4.  Fuck it Hard
5.  Fury of the Northmen
6.  The Forgotten King
7.  Darkest Day
8.  Manuel’s Mile
9.  Wings of War
10.  Pestilence

Total playing time:  34:23

Release Date: August 11, 2011
Label: Ceol Dorchas Records

Achren - The Forgotten King

Reviewer: Peter

February 4, 2012