Year: 2020
Total Time: 45:44
Label: Listenable Records

The Dutch Deathsters THANATOS is the first extreme band from their country. The truth is that they have always been in the shadow of ASPHYX (they share the guitarist Paul Baayens) and this, not because of their musical quality but because of some wrong choices and their eight-year absence from the metal scene. THANATOS have released two great Death Metal albums “Emerging from the Netherworlds” and “Realm of ecstasy” (those of you who haven’t heard them have committed a crime, go get them immediately!!!) 1990 and 1992 respectively. Then they broke up, have reunited in 1999, by the singer / guitarist and only original member, Stephan Gebédi continuing releasing quality albums. Now we stop the history lessons as we are coming back to the present and at their new Death / Thrash juggernaut entitled “Violent Death Rituals”.

The album starts with the title track which hypnotizes you with a mid-tempo rhythm until a massive Death Metal riff comes and drags you into a furious Death/Thrash rhythm, grabbing you by the throat. Next song is “The Silent War”, the violence rhythm continues and without realizing it you have already start the headbanging. The Dutch fellows are pissed and this is reflected in “Violent Death Rituals”, many bands claim that they play Old School Death Metal but few really can and THANATOS with their new album are giving lessons on how it should be played the right way. The Death Metal gang of Stephan Gebédi takes us years back to the time when we first discovered Old School Death Metal from the mighty DEATH, MASSACRE and POSSESED.

The compositions have a big variety as THANATOS’s influences extend in a wide range of extreme metal sound. In “the Outer Darkness” we can find Black Metal influences mainly from IMMORTAL’s last albums, in “Unholy Predators” from OBITUARY and old DEATH, “Always Ends in Blood” shows us their love for the Swedish melodic Death Metal while the album ends with Death/ Doom, ASPHYX style song “As the Cannons Fade”. The guitars worship early SLAYER and Chuck Schuldiner (“Leprosy” years), while rhythm section and breakdowns are capable of destroying everything with their heavy violent sound. As far as the production is concerned, a massive and savage sound has been highlighted by the great Dan Swanö with his magic hands on mixing the album.

THANATOS returned in 2020 with a great Death/Thrash metal record that looks into the eyes the discography of 90-92. The album does not have a single mediocre moment and it is impossible to listen to it and remain calm. Even in the moments of confinement and isolation that we live in, listening to “Violent Death Rituals” can be considered as dangerous because of the violent and aggressive emotions it creates. THANATOS may have released the Death / Thrash album of 2020 but it’s still too early to say that, time will tell .But surely “Violent Death Rituals” is not only one of year’s best releases but also a great record for Death/Thrash Metal genre in years.

Rating: 8/10
Editor: Nikos Manousis
Related Link: THANATOS – Facebook Page