Panzerchrist: Regiment Ragnarok

Melting faces since their full length debut in 1996, Panzerchrist started out as a medium paced death metal outfit, however with their 2000 album Soul Collector, the band changed focus in three ways. First up a "war theme" was brought to the Panzerchrist sound in terms of lyrics and atmosphere, secondly machine-gun salvos of drums upped the pace significantly and finally a whole new line up joined bassist and war coordinator Michael Enevoldsen to ensure the creation of his new vision. The roll call for this band has continued to evolve with every tour of duty that Panzerchrist have taken on, but the vital roles are ably filled with drummer Mads Lauridsen gunning down all in his path and vocalist Magnus Jorgensen gargling blood across the twelve growl fuelled attacks that make up the band's sixth full length release.

In terms of the musical assault Regiment Ragnarok is a black tinged death metal album that with the odd exception is charged through at full whack and Lauridsen deserves full credit for his unremitting percussive assault. However as with every extreme metal act, this regiment stands or falls through their guitar attack and in the shape of Rasmus Henriksen and Lasse Bak, Panzerchrist have enough fire power to neutralise the enemy. Thunderous riffs are accompanied by more intricate licks, with the twin guitar approach being well utilised as the pair weave in and out of each other's playing. Enevoldsen ably backs up his crack pair with mightily solid bass work, but it really is the drumming and beyond aggressive vocal attack that entices you behind Regiment Ragnrock's enemy lines.

There's little in the way of originality, although some songs do slow things down somewhat and offer a more atmospheric slant to break up the blitzkrieg, but in general this is a full on, take no prisoners offensive that really allows Panzerchrist to ram home their death metal with maximum force. Some of the songs have little sampled, spoken word intros or explosions and gun fire rattling through them, which all helps add to the atmosphere. However as all good albums should Regiment Ragnarok relies on good songs and superb delivery first and foremost and as such is one of the better offerings from this genre released so far this year. Time to enlist in Regiment Ragnarok!

Track Listing
01. Prevail
02. Panzer Regiment Jylland
03. Metal Tribes
04. Impact
05. For The Iron Cross
06. We March As One
07. The Armour Of Armageddon
08. Ode To A Cluster Bomb
09. King Tiger
10. Feuersturm
11. Time For The Elite
12. Trenches

Added: July 5th 2011
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Panzerchrist MySpace
Hits: 3381
Language: english

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