Arsis’ 2008 album, We Are the Nightmare was
my first taste of the band, a superb album of technical death
metal standing out from the hordes of American metalcore.
Arsis is a pure throwback to early ‘80s thrash metal,
which just happens to tear its ways through the ribcage of
their 2010 release, Starve for the Devil.
“Forced to Rock” opens the album, an ode to Satan,
thrash metal and the metal lifestyle. It has an ‘80s
thrash riff, pump-your-fist chorus and motors along like something
from Killing Is My Business … And Business Is Good.
Speaking of Megadeth, Arsis vocalist/guitarist/songwriter
James Malone emulates Dave Mustaine like no other. Right down
to his guitar stance and snarling vocal delivery, he’s
clearly taken lessons from one of the thrash greats.
But Arsis is no carbon-copy of Megadeth. A lot of that Death-progressiveness
and technicality—in fact, a whole lot—from We
Are the Nightmare and past albums is present on Starve
for the Devil. From the complexity of “A March
for the Sick,” to the devilish guitar harmony of “Sick
Perfection” to “Half Past Corpse O’Clock,”
Arsis sounds at home with their next-door neighbors, Carcass
and Megadeth. I’d like to get an invite for that barbecue.
As I saw live on Arch Enemy’s “Tyrants of Evil”
tour, the guitar work here is, in an overused but fitting
word, blistering—fast-picking solos that are as fast
as they are evil. Malone absolutely shreds and this album
gets an early nomination for shredder-of-the-year.
Arsis’ best work may still be the title track from We Are the Nightmare, or the 13-minute death metal
epic “A Diamond for Disease.” But Starve for
the Devil will be the album that gets these guys deserved
notoriety. |
