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August 29, 2008 |
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01. Inevitable (Intro)
02. Darker Days Ahead
03. Crematorium
04. Fallout
05. Doomed Forever
06. Mayhem
07. Blind Army
08. Nightmare
09. Legacy Of Brutality
10. Dead Shall Rise V.06
11. Victim Of Greed
12. Ghost Train (Outro)
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It's been close to twenty years since the 1989 release of TERRORIZER's "World Downfall", an album that is absolutely essential for any fan of Grindcore/Death Metal. The Armageddon-bound colossus that was TERRORIZER consisted of vocalist Oscar Garcia, future NAPALM DEATH axe-man Jesse Pintado (R.I.P.), and MORBID ANGEL's rhythm section: bassist David Vincent and drummer Pete Sandoval. A super-group that would cause any underground Metal fan to froth at the mouth, "World Downfall" delivered in spades, not only creating the blueprint for generations of Deathgrind acts to come, but also reaching beyond the fiery confines of the underground and influencing some of the more accessible pit-friendly acts like SLIPKNOT.
So what does TERRORIZER have to offer the listener in 2006? Sadly, not much. "Darker Days Ahead" is a dud; a collection of sub-standard Death Metal that is so by-the-numbers that, while catchy, offers nothing of any real thrill or excitement. The throat and lung venoms of Oscar Garcia have been replaced by new vocalist Anthony Rezhawk, who has never even come close to matching Garcia's power or enthusiasm. David Vincent? He's gone too, replaced by another MORBID ANGEL alum, bassist Tony Norman, who was actually the bassist for TERRORIZER (the band broke up and than reformed to record "World Downfall", with Vincent replacing him). Pintado's riffs sound and feel like leftovers well beyond their expiration date, spoiled and without their original flavor. Sandoval's drums are typical of modern Death Metal production; inorganic and so mechanized that it might as well be a thousand type-writers going at once.
The content of the songs tread the same water that most bands of this style present, vague and not-so vague political and social statements about the state of whatever. Been there, done that. The band is even covering themselves, a new version of their classic song "Dead Shall Rise" is among the tracks, which sounds like it was fed through Pro-Tools until it met a KRISIUN fan's approval. With that, plus the absence of the original vocalist, the album feels like a new band making an awful attempt at being TERRORIZER rather than an honest to God TERRORIZER album.
"Darker Days Ahead" is the Grindcore "St. Anger"; a clueless uninspired mess that has no real reason to exist beyond averting attention away from younger, hungrier, more deserving acts and generating a few more dollars and maybe a chance to feel young again for those in the band. The thing is, these people moved on years ago and have done great things since then. Pintado (R.I.P.) had NAPALM DEATH. Sandoval has MORBID ANGEL. Those bands are still going strong, touring the world and putting out music that's relevant and interesting. "Darker Days Ahead" is a step backwards by people who are in bands synonymous with moving ahead. A new TERRORIZER album was not needed, and "Darker Days Ahead" is the proof.
If this album had been written and recorded by any of the countless no-name Death Metal/Grindcore acts operating today, it would ensure them a permanent spot in the loneliest circle of demo-band Hell. But because of the name on the cover, it's guaranteed a release, and probably more than a few apologists who are clinging to the better days.
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