There’s no question, when it comes to crumbling, monstrous death metal, Dark Descent records simply can’t be fucked with. However, when going out side the realms of death metal, I tend to get a little less enamored with the label’s releases. The likes of Gravehill, Craven Idol and Crypt Sermon, while respected releases in their respective, non death metal genres, just don’t do it for me. But Chile’s blackened thrashers Invincible Force might change my mind.
With a band name taken from a Destruction song, you’d think this was a simple Euro or Bay Area thrash, but the spikes, leather and bullet belt adorned quartet are befitting their looks (and gnarly South American metal roots) with a slightly nastier, blacker take on thrash metal that’s ripping from start to finish.
Comparisons are hard as I’m not much for blackened thrash, but label mates Craven Idol, Slayer, early Sepultura and the host of South American, bestial black metal acts spring to mind and the 24 minute, 8 song assault rarely lets up or gives you a chance to breath. From furious opener “Rise the Wrath of Satan” through the slightly slower burning “Summoning the Black Destruction” to closer “Unholy Trinity” the release delivers razor sharp guitars, sneering rasps and a lot of Satan.
It careens along with a brimstone driven energy that retains some sneaky thrash melody here and there (“Unholy Trinity”), but for the most part blisters and peels with blackened fury and hellish relentlessness. This style usually isn’t my thing, but Invincible Force‘s delivery is so short sharp and direct I barely have time to catch my breath and over analyze the bullet belt beat down I just received from the likes of “Onwards to War” and “Bringer of Armageddon”. But still, my preference is the label’s primary style, even if this certainly is making me more of a (non?) believer.
