BATTLERAGE - THE SLAUGHTER RETURNS
METAL ON METAL RECORDS
Metal To Infinity
As
true
as it can
be, Santiago located Battlerage started raising hell back in 2002. Ex-Steelrage
drummer Francisco Vera had enough of his former band -
with plans of setting
up a new Heavy Metal project, he got
in touch with guys
from Afterlife and Dama Negra and rehearsed some tunes out which lead
finally to the release of the
first demo called "Metal
Slaughter".
All went quite well and also live gigs stood on the working list.
Ex-Akramen
axeman joined forces -
and a
while later second demo hit the streets as "Return
Of The Axemen".
The official start of Battlerage seemed very promising and
in 2004 also their debut full length "Steel
Supremacy"
came out receiving positive
response from fans - unfortunately,
shit happened and all changed into a sort of "downhill"
situation. Infested by several line-up
changes, Battlerage struggled through hard times.
It took a while before the sky brightened up above the Battlerage camp. Some new guys came in with good intentions and that was exactly what they were looking for. Musicians loaded with good ideas and driven to play Heavy Metal pure - in May 2006 a new output entitled "Battlefield Belongs To Me" breaks through the Metal horizons and the national metalheads were more than just satisfied with the final result of it.
We
all know that it's damn hard to put down your band's
name on the
international map of Heavy Metal. With all respect for the Chilean Metal scene
which is not that big -
conclusion: doubly
difficult to find a worldwide distribution, right? Actually very pitiful for
great bands hailing from there,
but as for Battlerage, the final solution was in sight. Polish / Italian label
named Metal On Metal took the ultimate decision and decided to deliver
to the masses a
re-issue of Battlerage's demos that were released in 2003. By this the band get
what they deserve, recognition in both national and international fields of
Metal.
The
band,
as well as fans of True Heavy Metal,
should be very grateful to MOM Records because an album like ''The Slaughter
Returns'' is really
good. A pleasure for all into True Classic Heavy Metal with a Epic feel.
This new album contains two demos plus a few goodies -
I am very
pleased with an album like this. Vocal is
pretty harsh or barbaric, tempo ranges from up-tempo
to mid-paced.
Battlerage can be considered as good,
skilled musicians learning their lessons in "build
up a song in the best possible conditions"
very well -
you should hear the way both of the guitar players are
doing their duties. All
classic
Heavy Metal minded, old school maniacs better be prepared for these guys' six
strings
tactics.
Without
problems, "The
Slaughter Returns"
should be placed in a category of releases so called "the
mid-eighties"
so I'd like to present this product as "a
new album for the old school".
Songs I would
die for are: "Black
Riders Of Destruction"
(longest track but so beautifully
arranged -
awesome!), I won't
forget to mention the cover from one of my favourite '80s
gods,
Omen. From their legendary "Battle
Cry"
album, Battlerage appears here in full glory with the song "The
Axemen"!
Better believe me when I say this is one of the best Omen covers ever recorded!
More Metal peaks coming your way
with songs like: "By
Steel I Reign Supreme",
"Metal
Slaughter",
"Blessed
By The Axe"
(bonus)...
Better find out by yourself,
which songs will conquer
your Heavy Metal soul.
Great
production, magnificent cover art -
many pages,
thick booklet with history
of the band, lyrics...
I absolutely don't
think something is lacking here. To me, a perfectly worked out re-release of a
great Chilean band's two early demos. For fans of early Running Wild / Grave
Digger / Omen / Attacker. Band info at: http://www.myspace.com/battleragetruemetal
. To order, go to: http://www.metal-on-metal.com
.
My Points: 92 / 100 (Review by Stefan)