Feral are a death metal band from Sweden and this is their fourth album.
Following on from last year’s tasty split with Crawl, (Made as Those Who Are No Longer Alive), we now get 46 minutes of new material from Feral in the shape of To Usurp the Thrones.
Feral play classic Swedish death metal, and they play it well. Having previously established themselves as quality purveyors of all things Swedeath, To Usurp the Thrones simply cements their position as one of the more enjoyable bands in the subgenre. Yes, Swedish death metal is a very well-worn style at this point, but when the songwriting is good, the chainsaws are revving, and the vocals roar right into your face, it’s hard to feel too jaded. Feral know what they’re doing with this sort of material.
Feral’s classic assault is aggressive and merciless. They vary their attack across different speeds and moods, with blast beat hostility, murderous riffs, crusty d-beats, mid-paced groove, and slower doom crawls all getting deployed at select points. Throw in some dark melodies, expressive solos, and macabre atmospheres, and you have a solid, well-rounded album that’s easy to enjoy.
This is a feast of crushing death metal carnage, and it’s heavy. Feral sound monstrous in more ways than one. To Usurp the Thrones is packed with songs that demolish everything around them. One of the things I like about To Usurp the Thrones is that while it absolutely adheres to the Swedish death metal template, within this Feral have fun with the sound. Not only does the music sound vibrant and passionate, but the band also throw in some more unusual, inventive, or intricate parts here and there, all of which enhance the overall impact of the album. There’s simply an energy here that’s very moreish.
Feral’s old-school death metal is well-crafted and boasts tight songwriting. It’s packed with hooks and lethal riffs, and designed to slay and maim with impunity. To Usurp the Thrones is an exemplar of Swedish death metal dominance. If you’re a fan of the style then this is particularly strong and enjoyable example of it. Feral keep getting better with age.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 