Year: 2020
Total Time: 51:41
Label: Self-Financed
The Belgian group THURISAZ is not a newcomer since it was founded in 2000 and since then, it is serving the Extreme metal without a break. The band has released five LP’s so far (“Re-Incentive” is the sixth) and the point is that it has played several genres of extreme metal (such as Black, Death, Battle, Atmospheric Doom) without being repetitive, a fact that is not so easy.
In “Re-Incentive” the Belgians are doing the same thing, combining all these genres, adding mellow and clean vocals, making the whole outcome more interesting. Starting a record with an approximately 10-minute song, it is regarded as an “anti-commercial” fact, but THURISAZ with “In Balance” seem to win the bet. From the beginning any hesitations and complaints are set aside, since there is a great atmosphere and a lurking sense that “something is going to happen”, “something is waiting to be revealed”, not knowing “when” and “from where”. The listener is asked to sense this feeling in every song, being rewarded almost all the times either with eerie melodies or battle cries even with melancholic, symphonic motives. Having a big live experience (since they toured numerous times in great European and American gigs and events), THURISAZ know exactly how to build stocky but sensual melodies , using them as a basis to add the rest of the instruments, building upon them a nice songwriting, something that is very difficult to do. One interesting thing I found is the variety of the songs and the way they fit in the album in order to avoid my finger pushing the repeat button.
There are a lot of interesting moments in “Re-Incentive”, for example in ‘Isle of Man” there is a rather melancholic piano tune and in “Monologue” the clean vocals in the beginning lead to a gradual escalation until the bombastic explosion! In “Illuminight” you should admire the alternation between rhythms and senses with the proper use of female vocals; this is a brilliant song. Lyrics don’t agree with the usual theme we meet in Black/Death metal groups, they deal with feelings about depression, rejection, melancholy and loss without falling into the trap of misery, poverty and melodramatic “Hollywood situations”. The man who is responsible for the excellent production is Jens Bogren (come on, don’t ask me who he is, go and check his massive quality work) who managed to do a fantastic job with a very professional result. For me it is an axiom, that a dedicated and professional producer and sound engineer can highlight all the folds of talent and professionalism of the artist in order to achieve the best result.
To be honest I have listened to “Re-Incentive” many times and under various circumstances to find quite a few blemish and I’m glad that THURISAZ managed to prove me wrong, because “Re-Incentive” is by far their best, most qualitative and mature record. The mixture of extreme elements is done with the right dose, everything is well balanced and the result is fresh and satisfying. Grant yourselves a gift, let your mind flow into THURISAZ’s world…you won’t regret it!!
Rating: 8/10
Editor: Dimos Karadimos
Related Link: THURISAZ- Official Page
