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October 12, 2008 |
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GOD DETHRONED - The Toxic Touch
Metal Blade (2006) |
9.5/10 |
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01. Faithless
02. Hating Life
03. 2014
04. Falling Down
05. On Wings Of Pestilence
06. The Day You Died
07. Away From Emptiness
08. Macabre World
09. Typhoid Mary
10. Fail To Exist
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Between 1900 and 1915, Irish immigrant Mary Mallon, working as a cook in various private homes off and on throughout the 15 year period, infected nearly 50 people with the deadly disease known as typhoid fever, severely sickening them and ultimately causing the death of several. Though various medical tests proved beyond doubt that Mary was a "healthy carrier" of the deadly disease, she adamantly refused to accept the truth. After attempting to evade capture, Mary was eventually quarantined in a hospital for three years, and then released on the condition that she never work with food again. But through a combination of malice and obstinate denial, she assumed the pseudonym Mary Brown, resumed her role as a cook, and in 1915 infected 25 of the previously mentioned victims, two of whom ultimately died. Mary was then isolated in a hospital for the rest of her life, forbidden even to give as much as a drink of water to visiting journalists. Perhaps the world's only known "passive" serial killer, Mary's stubborn denial and utter disregard for human life led her to become known as the most dangerous woman in American history: Typhoid Mary.
Dutch Melodic Death maestros GOD DETHRONED, masters of melody and rulers of the mighty riff, have made malicious little Mary the running theme for their latest realization of musical mastery, "The Toxic Touch". While not prominent enough to categorize this as a concept album, the influence of Typhoid Mary runs rampant through a good portion of the album, invoking a more supernatural incarnation of the notorious purveyor of pestilence through superior Melodic Death masterworks like "The Day You Died", "On Wings Of Pestilence", and "Typhoid Mary".
Having already well established their right to the Dutch Death Metal crown through a long run of legendary albums that include "Ravenous", "The Grand Grimoire" and the monolithic classic "Bloody Blasphemy", GOD DETHRONED have further expounded upon their obvious mastery by incorporating mini-themes in their last few records. From the rabid, politically charged ferocity of "Into The Lungs Of Hell" to the Bram Stoker inspired, horror driven dirges of "The Lair Of The White Worm", GOD DETHRONED have proven there are much more fascinating topics to be covered than the generic hack and slash themes of typical Death Metal bands. Typhoid Mary is easily their most intriguing subject yet, and certainly her lethal legacy is a ripe harvest for the fields of Melodic Death devastation that is the benchmark of GOD DETHRONED's sound.
And of course, as is always the case with GOD DETHRONED, it's the sound that is the true killer. Foregoing all out speed and overindulgent blast beats in favor of razor sharp guitar hooks, phenomenally precise drum performances and Henri Sattler's (aka The Serpent King) seething, venomous yet discernible vocals in order to create moving albums of diverse force, precision, and dominance, there's no arguing that GOD DETHRONED are all too worthy of the status of Extreme Metal legends. "The Toxic Touch" is certainly no exception, and truth be told this is possibly the best work they've done since "Bloody Blasphemy". Bearing one of the coolest intros you're likely to have heard in years in the form of "Faithless" (you'll be chanting "Serpent King, I hate you" - "Don't listen to them, my son…" in no time), which bleeds into the ball-busting Thrasher "Hating Life", and just two tracks into the album the next thing you know you're cranking the stereo, blowing out windows, pissing off the neighbors and kicking the cat.
The momentum carries from there, delivering exceptionally solid groove-laden hooks song after song, pulling out all the stops with "Falling Down", an instant GOD DETHRONED legend every bit as infectious and crushing as ultimate band classics like "Boiling Blood", "Villa Vampiria", and "The Art Of Immolation". Written by the band's relatively new guitarist Isaac Delahaye, "Falling Down" is irrevocable proof that he is the ideal second guitarist and contributor the band has been looking for. Add to that the oppressive bass battery of Henk "Henke" Zinger and a flawlessly enthralling drum performance courtesy of Ariën Van Weesenbeek, and you've got the most effective and tightest GOD DETHRONED incarnation to date. Wrapping it all up nicely is an astounding production job by Joerg Uken that amplifies every possible aspect of the album to perfect individual clarity, ensuring that not a single growl, riff, harmonic, drum blast or bass thrum goes misplaced or unnoted.
Thanks to the deadly diary that was Typhoid Mary's life and the unrivaled musical mastery of the musicians that helm GOD DETHRONED, you can bet your ass that there are few albums in 2006 that can even come close to competing with the sheer consistency, brilliance and bite of "The Toxic Touch". "She wears the sign of the reaper, typhoid runs in her blood. Her hands touch you so gently, a toxic touch and the virus you'll get." This is one sick album.
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