Desaster - 666 Satan's Soldiers Syndicate

June 4, 2009

Reviewer: J. A. Burt

So I basically consider Desaster to be the standard by which all Black/Thrash Metal bands are to be judged, and 666 Satan’s Soldiers Syndicate is really the perfect example of just why the hell that is.  This, the German band’s sixth album, is simply a monster in the genre, and goes a long way towards solidifying the band as the clear kings of this music. 

There will always be two camps of Desaster fans:  those who prefer original vocalist Okkulto, and those like myself who are bigger fans of current vocalist Sataniac, who sounds truly deranged at times here, and honestly seems to put his all into his performance.  The songwriting on 666 Satan’s Soldiers Syndicate is extremely impressive, and nearly every song possesses a memorability missing from much of the Black and Thrash Metal of today.  Cheers to Metal Blade for picking this band up, and cheers to Desaster for making the absolute most of their obviously increased recording budget.  There are also some snazzy guest performers on the album.  Proscriptor (Absu) composed the intro, and provides some vocals along with the unmistakable Nemtheanga (Primordial) on “Tyrannizer”, and Ashmedi from Melechesh supplied a guitar solo for the excellent “Angel Extermination”.

The production here is stellar and the band sounds huge, but by no means do they sacrifice their malicious edge.  And the riffs…. The riffs!  Vicious and hateful, catchy and killer.  The main riffs in “Vile We Dwell” and the title track are some of the most exciting Speed Metal riffs I’ve heard in years.  This band is really writing the blueprint.  So recommended it ain’t funny. 

Release Date: September 7, 2007
Label: Metal Blade Records

TRACK LISTING

1. Intro
2. Satan's Soldiers Syndicate
3. Angel Extermination
4. Razor Ritual
5. Hellbangers
6. Fate Forever Flesh
7. Vile We Dwell
8. Tyrannizer
9. Venomous Stench
10. More Corpses For The Grave

Total playing time: 37:25

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