Trilogy: Prisoners Of Miserable Fate
ShellFire Attack
Ukraine’s
Bestial Invasion is undeniably old school thrash, but nothing you’re
accustomed to. If you’re expecting the linear songwriting structure of
Exodus or Testament, you’re certain to be misdirected several times. For
a three song EP, Trilogy: Prisoners Of Miserable Fate is unorthodox, taking
unanticipated turns to keep you wondering where it goes next. I
appreciate bands that take chances such as this, even if some listeners
would prefer something more straightforward and less unpredictable.
Another band that gave me this impression was Charmand Grimloch’s
Tartaros on The Grand Psychotic Castle and The Red Jewel, an EP and full
length released in the late 90s that made real, genuine efforts to
stand out from everything else released at the time. It’s always been
somewhat difficult to describe the response occurring inside when
venturing into such domains, but suffice it to say it’s an immersive
feeling I rarely experience. The band classify their music as being a
technical style thrash metal, with an assorted neighborhood of
influences including Raven, Dark Angel, Coroner, Death, Destruction,
Atheist, Toxik and Anacrusis. But this only explains so much if you
don’t hear this firsthand. The guitars of Aleksandr Klapcov
are prominent throughout these songs, speaking conspicuously of melodic
black metal next to their meticulous machine gun crunch and precise
time changes. The characteristic energy of thrash is apparent from the
start. It is a unique choice for a first song, beginning as a mid-tempo
scorcher with vocals reminiscent of John Cyriis of Agent Steel. Vocalist
V. Zadiev matches Cyriis’ high notes and air raid wails so well I’d
think Agent Steel should have been cited as an influence. The track goes
from mid-tempo to slow to crunch to thrashy, all before the second
verse. Following a long series of time changes is a lead solo close to
the end; marked by a dismal piano note. Things get even stranger as the
acoustic intro of Zodiac: Crime World Mystery is followed by progressive
crunch before getting thrashier near its abrupt end. The final song
Caligula: Salacious Age is the least predictable, starting with a bass
intro followed in turn by more prog riffs, time changes and dexterous
scales. All in all this is something you really have to hear for
yourself. -Dave Wolff
Track list:
1. Prisoner of Miserable Fate
2. Zodiac: Crime World Mystery
3. Caligula: Salacious Age
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