Lazarus A.D. – ‘Black Rivers Flow’ Album Review

One listen to the crushing opening track ‘American Dreams’ on Lazarus A.D.’s latest effort rapidly dispels any notion that this is a band liable to fold under the oft-quoted-with-glee-by-lazy-journalists ‘second album syndrome’ as it storms past the gates with all the anger of early Metallica yet a very distinctive bite that is all its own. With vocals that veer closer to the Exodus school of thrash and solos that are refreshingly classic rock in style, the band weld their considerable influences together to craft a brutal, contemporary (although aware of its heritage) and angry record that will unite metal fans on both sides of the Atlantic in fits of frantic and frenzied moshing.

Taking a vaguely progressive view of song-writing (although rather more ‘Master of puppets’ than ‘and justice for all’),  ‘American dreams’ impresses from the off with tempo changes and multiple riffs and solos while the hyper-fast, hyper-technical blast of metal that is ‘the ultimate sacrifice’ simply roars out of your speakers defiantly daring you to get in its way. Certainly the band’s bullish demeanour is on proud display here with each track offering up a barely concealed rage and fury that is often lacking from commercial metal releases. Here the sound and fury most certainly does signify something and the ‘quality control’ that the band speak of in the press release “We are incredibly harsh when it comes to honesty in our songwriting, and if it doesn’t scream “that’s heavy as fuck” or “this sounds amazing”, it’s not making the record.” (Jeff Paulick – guitars vocals), is very much in evidence with every track a rip-roaring beast of the highest calibre. The youthful Exodus-esque ‘the strong prevail’ is up next and, as with the other tracks, the benefit of having two capable singers in the band is made very obvious from the outset with the vocalists trading lines and spit like machine gun bullets on the battle field.

However, it’s not all blood and guts. The sinister title track slows the pace and opens with a gentle arpeggio filled with whispered voices before graduating through mid-tempo chug to a brutal technical riff that may even trouble the likes of Dream Theater with its fret-board worrying intensity, while the chorus is absurdly catchy for such a heavy piece of music. ‘Casting forward’ also maintains a catchy chorus but a more straight forward verse that seems even more enraged following the slower track that preceded it. Brutally heavy, the guitars fizz and spit while the solo is a beautifully fluid piece of work that colours the track perfectly before a last frantic dash through the sing-along chorus rounds out the pure adrenalin burst that the song represents. Indeed, it is arguable that every track here is like an instant energy burst – the result of too much Red Bull with the previous evening’s vodka as, like all good metal, the net result of listening to ‘black rivers flow’ is to feel as if you’ve just plugged yourself into the mains. It is energising, invigorating, very heavy metal that sets your heart beating wildly and the blood surging through your veins making it the perfect record to blast out before dragging your exhausted carcass to work or on a night out – it’s top stuff! As ‘light up a city’ surfs through thrash and even unleashes a riff that is pure Motorhead it’s hard not to smile at the myriad influences and classics that have been brought together here and realigned so that Lazarus A.D.’s output becomes more than just a tribute to the past and rather a living breathing exhibition of past, present and future metal – technical, impassioned and brutally heavy.

Of the final three tracks ‘through your eyes’ edges away from a Metallica-based sound towards a Slayer direction with a riff that is a direct descendent of ‘Angel of Death’ although the chorus is infinitely more melodic, hinting even at a dare-I-say-it Trivium-esque hook. Before purists, who for some reason best known to themselves hate Trivium with a fiery passion, start spluttering into their cereal, it must be noted that none of these are direct comparisons – Lazarus A.D. have a sound all of their own and any comparisons are there for reference so that the reader has a rough idea of where these tracks go. The aptly titled ‘beneath the waves of hatred’ is a snarling blast of kick drums and stair-stepping riffs, while the vocals here are particularly strong and filled with vitriol. The final track, ‘eternal vengeance’  closes this short album (harking nicely back to the days of vinyl when albums were kept at a relatively svelte forty minutes rather than maxed out at seventy-odd minutes with a ton of filler and/or bonus tracks) in Machine-Head-epic-style leaving your appetite for metal sated but not over-indulged.

Lazarus A.D. are a band who are fun first and foremost. With a dedication to straining those neck muscles, they are arguably not the most original bunch on the planet, but then that’s not entirely the point – rather Lazarus A.D. make good use of their influences while injecting enough of their own personality and humour to put their spin comfortably on the finished product. Surely even better live than on record, this is a non-stop blast that will provide the perfect soundtrack to nights in with mates and beer or out in the pit. There’s a warmth and love of the subject matter here that is entirely irresistible and, as I noted before, listening to the record is like receiving a whopping great of electricity direct to the brain as every track is a massive shot of adrenalin liable to leave you staggering bug-eyed and blood-shot, out of a listening session unsure of exactly what it was that hit you quite so hard!  In short, exactly what you want from a modern thrash album… sweet!