My Blood 2011

"(Warning: this review contains fanboy outbursts of joyous appraisal combined with political frustration and disillusion)

The world's most underrated thrash metal band are back. Artillery's forthcoming album "My Blood" is the Danish band's sixth album, and I must say, it really friggin' kicks ass.

First off, Artillery deliver their usual style of high octane somewhat technical thrash metal, and tracks like "Monster", "Dark Days" (man, the chorus is so awesome), "Death Is an Illusion", "Thrasher", "Warrior Blood", and "End of Eternity" are prime examples of Artillery's uptempo, aggressive, yet groovy and melodic and distinct style of thrash metal (which proves that you don't necessarily have get soft as you grow older).

But I also detect some experimentation and introduction of a couple of new elements. For instance, the opening track "Mi Sangre (The Blood Song)" is more epic and exotic than anything the band has ever done before. I mean, the eastern influences have been there since "Khomaniac" on their masterpiece 'By Inheritance', but here, they take it to the max with an introduction includes didgeridoos, Middle Eastern scales and an epic exotic feel.

As "When Death Comes" showed, vocalist Søren Adamsen has been a real asset to the band, and he continues to amaze on this album, and even those who prefer Flemming Rønsdorf's voice will surely have to admit that Adamsen has brought something new to the band with his powerful voice and sense of melody and precision. I hasten to add that absolutely love Rønsdorf's work on "Terror Squad", "By Inheritance" and "B.A.C.K.", but Adamsen's voice is a major contributor to the sense of energy that characterizes "When Death Comes" and "My Blood".

Admittedly, there are not many things these days that induce a sense of national pride in me; I hate the government, I hate the mentality that has been prevalent among the population for the last ten years or so, I hate how the national TV has devolved into pure trash, I hate the blatant racism that has been incorporated into many aspects of the administrative system, I hate the bad rep my country has gained around the world, and I hate the unoriginality and lack of balls on the mainstream music scene (there's a great alternative scene though). Yes, although I love my country, there are a lot of things I hate about my country these days (well, I hate them because I love my country, and I think they're damaging to the country). "What the hell does this political rant have to do with this album?", you might ask. Well, it is bands like Artillery and releases like this that remind me that I still have reason to be proud of my country, which in turn makes me feel hopeful for the future of my country.

This is an awesome album, which is recommended to all fans of thrash metal. I hope that the band has more albums on the way in the future. And, I would recommend all Danish metal fans to support the unsung heroes of thrash metal and buy this album.

(review originally posted on metalmusicarchives.com)"