Year: 2021
Total Time: 49:40
Label: Warhorn Records

In 2016, the end of the great BOLT THROWER created a huge gap in our musical “hearts” and overall in Death Metal, which the blasphemous Scottish DEATH KOMMANDER dreamed that they could fill. Everyone has the right to dream, dreams are free of course, but we are here to judge their musical output. DEATH KOMMANDER was formed in 2018 in Edinburgh, Scotland and released their “Summer Offensive ’18” demo to return this year with their debut album “Pro Patria Mori”.

The Scottish band is in love with the Death Metal sound of their British neighbors and follow the musical path that some, because of the uniqueness of their sound, have branded as BOLT THROWER Metal. “Pro Patria Mori” is quite reminiscent of the sound of “Those Once Royal” and “Mercenary”, with its mostly slowly and  heavy Death Metal riffs and the general war-related atmosphere in both lyrics and artwork. The vocals remind us of Karl Willetts, while the production is huge, with its groove and melodies bringing to mind the British Death Metal gods’ discography.

In “Pro Patria Mori”, everything may be well played but that is not enough for it to avoid being mentioned as a tribute record to BOLT THROWER, because only as such it can be considered. Now if some metal fans perceive that these are just influences, they can take a listen to the album and buy it also. I just can’t hear a band that copies and does not display a sign of personality in its sound, as I believe that here we are dealing with a case of failed clones.

Rating: 5/10
Label: Nikos Manousis
Related Link: DEATH COMMANDER – Facebook Page