Atrocity – Okkult III – Album Review
Origin: Deutschland
Release: 20.01.2023
Label: Massacre Records
Duration: 40:25 – LP / 01:30:50 – 2CD
Genre: Death Metal
When bands suddenly emerge from obscurity and the glowing spark becomes a flame, then in my opinion an old band has done everything right.
That’s what happened to me Moonspell, that’s what happened to me in 2018 Atrocity and her mighty Occult II. Five years later the conclusion of the occult trilogy appears. After leaving longtime guitarist Thorsten Bauer I was excited to see if the band might up the ante and end the threesome with a highlight. I was more than surprised, the spark ignited into a big campfire. Atrocity are finally back where they used to be with me!
Like a phoenix from the ashes
with Occult III the death lead returns to the band. If the second part of the series was already a return to the very old strength, this album is a look back to the hallucinations, death wish era of the band: So completely to their origins.
Death metal steam rams like Fire Ignites and the divine, groovy Born to Kill reflect the band’s everlasting joy of playing. Alex Krull rattles and grunts through the songs so masterfully that it’s a pleasure.
From new to old and back once more
I like the interplay of the boys’ old and new virtues. The spooky sound effects of Katie Halliday ensnare the songs with an uncomfortable atmosphere, which is especially evident in the songs Descreation Of God and Malicious Sukkubus to be expressed. The speed is rarely slowed down and the furious riffs diligently invite you to shake your head. In my case, of course, the bald head rotates. It’s really difficult to look for a grub in the bacon because the album doesn’t really hit the ground running.
Death´till death
The playing time of almost 40 minutes seems very short because there are also extraordinary Death Metal songs like Cypka owns. A song regarding a Polish serial killer, with speaking sequences and a concise, razor-sharp riff. Speaking of riffs, the guitar faction definitely needs to get a medal and a doctorate for having a hell of a lot of groove here.
In addition, the sound at home Alex Krull-Mastersound Studio was put together, top notch. To put it that way, it has a certain dirtiness throughout the heavy tracks and a clean clarity in the more atmospheric tracks. This finishing touch is a big plus for me.
Conclusion
Occult III is the culmination of an outstanding trilogy. Atrocity have a clean, groovy old-school Death Metal album with modern influences and have conquered me back, so to speak. I’ll even put one on top: This album belongs to the upper ranks of your work. 2023 is off to a good start for Alex and Co., they have one 9 / 10 deserved.
Line Up
Alexander Krull – Life
Micki Richter – guitars
Luc Gebhardt – guitars
Andre Nasso – Bass
Joris Nijenhuis – drums
Tracklist
01. Desecration Of God
02. Fire Ignites
03. Born To Kill
04. Bleeding For Blasphemy
05. Priest Of Plague
06. Malicious Sukkubus (feat. Elina Siirala & Zoë Marie Federoff)
07. Lycanthropia
08. Faces From Beyond
09. Cypka
10. Devil’s March (feat. Robse Dahn & Misstiq)
Links
Atrocity website
Facebook Atrocity
Instagram Atrocity
Also on Soundmagnet.eu
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The Soundmagnet.eu highlights of the year 2022 – Frank’s favorites – Soundmagnet
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