Thrall is very similar to their label mates Bahimiron in many ways: they're the same genre, releasing an album in the same month. Their lyrical content covers identical themes, and their logo is equally vine-covered although able to be read and considerably less sharp. Their similarities to Bahimiron are only on the surface, however, as Thrall doesn't fall to the shortcomings of their labelmates.
The production on Vermin to the Earth is very well done within the realm of black metal. It maintains that edge and the definitive characteristics of the genre without being muddy or painful to listen to. The high end is crisp, yet the low end is coherent and audible. The drums are an organic, non-triggered kit that is mixed with good presence and equalization. The bass guitar, which is usually shunned in metal -- but black metal especially -- is present enough to give a thick layer of bedrock to the crispy guitars and bright hats / cymbals.
The vocal performances are... enthralling. They are vicious and up front with the perfect smattering of echo and reverb to give them a noticeable punch.
"Vita Vacuus Voluntas" is a strong opening track with a brief, dynamic strum of broken chords preceded by massive blastbeats which descends back into a brutally mangled display of blastbeats and screams. "Oblivion" shakes things up with a tempo change, and a coherent song structure that steps away from blastbeats and gives you a chance to breathe. "Disease's Maiming Caress" and "Plague of Man" continue in a similar, almost doom metal-esque manner. "Mass Extinction" sets a chilling musical landscape with tom rolls, tremolo guitar lead and bludgeoning powerchords interspersed with massive moments of blastbeats and tortured, painful screaming. From the frostbitten lands of Australia, Thrall does black metal justice.
Track Listing
1. Vermin to the Earth
2. Oblivion
3. Disease's Maiming Caress
4. Plague of Man
5. Mass Extinction
6. Ecstasy Not of the Flesh
7. Vita Vacuus Voluntas
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