Assaulter - Salvation Like Destruction

July 19, 2009

Reviewer: J. A. Burt

The arrival of Assaulter’s debut full-length album “Salvation Like Destruction” in late 2008 served to further tighten Australia’s stranglehold on the Blackened Thrash genre.  The land down under really has the market near cornered these days, and this album is the perfect example of just why that is.  Combining the speedy thrash sensibilities of Destroyer 666, whom Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Simon Berserker played with briefly, the motivational reveling of Gospel of the Horns, and the snarling vitriol of Aura Noir, Salvation like Destruction is definitely one of the best black thrash albums to be released in years.

Berserker’s vocals are appropriately harsh, and it’s refreshing to hear lyrics concerning subjects other than the usual (and quite often juvenile) continuous blasphemy that’s all too common to the genre.  The speed-metal riffing is impressively quick and tight (though the guitar tone is unique and honestly a little odd).  The drums are loud and proud in the mix, and the album begins and ends on what are probably the strongest tracks on the disc.  Epic album closer “Between Gods and Men” is amazing, and Assaulter manages to keep it exciting for the duration of the running time thus preventing another problem common to this type of metal.  This album is an absolute must-have.  Bring on the follow-up!

Release Date: September 12, 2008
Label: Pulverised Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Talon and Teeth
2.  The Axiom Star
3.  Glory Alone
4.  Proselytiser
5.  Awe of Fire
6.  Vengeance Whips
7.  Between Gods and Men

Total playing time:  39:47

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