Chainsword - Blightmarch

CHAINSWORD - Blightmarch (GODZ OV WAR - CD 2021)

Hail of Bullets or Bolt Thrower are no longer active, so we need to find some supplements for our war themed death metal diet. We can get albums from Just Before Dawn, Memoriam or Humiliation or maybe Chainsword will be your choice, if they just released their debut album. And not a bad effort it is, I have to say, especially for a first release. 

These guys really did a lot to get that Bolt Thrower-esque feel in their riffs, like in the song called "Exterminatus". Chunky, powerful and heavy main riff quickly drills a hole in your head, sounding like panzers rolling loud and fast. There're obviously more such classic Thrower riffs, just listen to the title song or "Dreadquake Mortar"... And you know what? I absolutely have nothing against hearing that sort of riffage; they sound great, are memorable and fierce and they really give an energy. Luckily, there's a bit more to Chainsword style in general, more than just ripping some old Thrower riffs. Their music occasionally grabs more melodic parts, sometimes it resembles bands, like the mentioned Hail of Bullets or Six Feet under ("06.08 09:15" especially... even vocals remind me Chris Barnes a little, from the times when he didn't suck balls yet), Jungle Rot or Unleashed / Grave, with that mid paced, heavy death metal. And there's just enough going on in "Blightmarch", so it will not bore at all... Sure, it may not be the best death metal album I’ve heard this year, but it certainly is solid and worth of your interest. Songwriting is great, the production is also good enough... We will hear more good stuff from Chainsword in the future, I am sure. 

Standout tracks: “Exterminatus”, "06.08 09:15", “Ost Front 1943: Stalingrad” 

Verdict: 70/100