Born in November of 2006, the Italian Metal band
TETRARCHATE has gone through a natural evolution in terms of finding the right members and sound to push forward. Recording a demo in 2010 with the three song
“Onward”, the band spent the last two years performing and recording the follow up material which appears here in the four song EP
“Symposium of the Tetrarchs”.
Combining a mixture of Power Metal, Thrash, and a touch of off kilter Progressiveness, these 4 songs have a lot in common with German thrash, the oddities of
VOIVOD, and vocals more in the early
ARCH ENEMY/ death vein.
“Scar” opens the proceedings with a slightly jangly NWOBHM style guitar harmony before kicking into a mid-tempo anthem, the drumming shifting between power and thrash tempos.
“Massachertorte” is a 91 second whirlwind, the Italian lyrics barked out in a spitfire fashion as the riff/rhythm show circles and warps your brain a la
CORONER or the aforementioned
VOIVOD.
The third track
“Genocide” has a first riff that is eerily familiar to those who love
“The Toxic Waltz” – fortunately the follow up parts take the arrangement into a classic
MERCYFUL FATE-like vibe. Closer
“Chant of the Forsaken” is probably the most original of the four
TETRARCHATE songs, the guitar trills evoking an underground affect while the stop/ start action perfect for thrash/death mavens.
Decent but not outstanding, one to possibly look for as they gain more seasoning together.