Since it has been a while since Shiver Records sent us a promo CD and since I like many of this label's bands, I more than gratefully received BATTALION's brand new full-length work for a review. Since Shiver is a label that specializes in extreme Metal I already know what to expect so let's not waste time. Straight to the point mates!
The Belgian metallers BATTALION (not to be confused with the other Belgian band with the same name) started playing their warlike music back in 2001. Since then, the band has managed to do several major stuff like signing to the Belgian label Shiver, releasing some more than decent albums and have booked live performances with bands like AMON AMARTH, VADER, GRAVE, ASPHYX, VITAL REMAINS, as well as a German 2009 tour with TORTURE KILLER.
BATTALION's music is nothing more but pure Death Metal full of blasts, as well as some catchier moments that are created by the really good guitar work of Van De Putte. The album's guest appearance Vingerhoed (AXAMENTA) is also really positive, since this man is responsible for almost all of the solos in Welcome To The Warzone. The band's sound is similar to bands like BLOOD RED THRONE, PANZERCHRIST etc. The fact is that even though the album is really good, there is nothing that makes these guys differ from the rest of the good bands in the Death Metal scene.
Welcome To The Warzone is suggested only to die hard Death Metal lovers, fans of this band, as well as people that want to go a bit further and are looking for less known bands that know how to play some pure and honest music.
Tracklist:
Mechanize Blitzkrieg Cracks Of My Coffin Ten-Thousand Corpse Ditch Throne Of Lies Blunt Force Trauma Curb Stomp Verdun Meat Grinder Radiation Holocaust Opening The Blastdoors To Hell Mass Incinerator
Lineup:
Ruben Luts - Vocals Pieter Van De Putte - Guitar Kristof Hectors - Bass, Backing Vocals Erre Schellekens - Drums Jeroen Vingerhoed - Guitar (Guest)