Mind Noise Network
Thy Art Is Murder -
Holy War
by James Salt - 6 July 2015
The simple high pitched hammer-ons of Absolute Genocide are almost a warning sign of the onslaught about to bombard your ears...Thy Art Is Murder Are Back and sounding better than ever.
As far as death metal in 2015 goes, there aren't many out there more sublime than these Aussie bruisers, and their new album Holy War looks to solidify them as one of the leading forces on the scene.
In a market absolutely flooded with quality bands it's difficult to stand out among the pack, yet TAIM have managed to conjure up their own unique sound and trademark groove, and on this latest release, lead growler CH McMahon's vocals are sounding more evil and terrifying than ever, the songs are catchy and the breakdowns are some of the most aggressive you're likely to hear this year.
What the band should be proud of is how they've managed to improve on their superb predecessor Hate, the heaviness is knocked up a notch, the speed is ramped up and the instrumentation is second to none.
Album highlights come in the form of the title track and Coffin Dragger, where the band aren't just focussed on outright aggression. One thing that should not be underestimated is the lead work of guitarist Andy Marsh when called into question. And every track on the album is held together by an accomplished wall of sound produced by bassist Kevin Butler and drummer Lee Stanton.
The double-hitter of Child of Sorrow and Naked And Cold brings the album to a crushing finale, but somehow leaves you gagging for more of the relentless brutality.
What is for sure in the current heavy metal climate, bands usually have to do something quite special in order to stand head and shoulders above other acts. However, in the case of Thy Art Is Murder they've taken the approach of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", yet improve on what you've already achieved. And it's going to take one hell of an album to knock "Holy War" off the platform of best death metal album of the year, cementing them as one of the very best of the genre in the meantime.
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