Diabolic Force - March to Cavalry

March 31, 2010

Reviewer: Chris

Brazil’s current torrent of black thrash metal has been not only plentiful, but amazingly prolific, with a great number of bands popping up. It seems the South American countries have discovered the thrash/speed formula. While some of the thrash bands are a definitive page from the American almanac, others are your average rudimentary bands that have the tools if not the diversity. Diabolic Force seems to be a bit of both worlds: there’s some good thrash here, but nothing that stands out.

Following an EP and demo, the band’s third offering, March to Cavalry, begins with some Misfits-esque “American Nightmare” groove that seriously set me back for a brief moment. Once that little shock to the system passed, the initial kick of the subpar production, spot-on Tom Angelripper vocals, and I’m off to the races. To be perfectly frank, the CD seems to have a problem deciding between horror punk and thrash metal at times. What can usually be described as a good thrash-groove or “walk-along headbang” simply falls right over amidst two handfuls of really uninspired black thrash that is eerily reminiscent of “Witching Metal”-era Sodom, though not nearly as memorable. Otherwise sloppy, the music tends to overlap with the next song, both hindering and muddying the individual tunes, leaving very little in the way of memorable music. It’s the type of CD that could be useful for background music, but certainly nothing that can be popped on to impress your similarly-influenced friends.

While the basics of Black-Thrash 101 are present throughout, the main problem is positive consistency, which is to say that while some bands resonate longer and have staying power in this medium, the feel throughout is usually one of inspiring, well-crafted music. It just doesn’t seem very inspired to listen to March to Cavalry and feel like you’ve been entertained or enlightened. As I said, one song seems to run right into the next, making it difficult to pinpoint any one tune that “grabs you,” which is always a death knell for a band. What might otherwise have been a good demo effort in 1983 is now simply a twenty-years-too-late effort that is both unremarkable and lethargic.

Release Date: 2009
Label: Metal Inquisition Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Useless Existence
2.  I Just Want to get High
3.  Bastard Stealer
4.  Start the Armageddon
5.  Prisoner of Wickedness
6.  The Beast Returns
7.  Death Spells
8.  Piss on Holy Ghost
9.  Erection, Ejaculation,
     Exibicionism
10.  March to Calvary

Total playing time:  36:18

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