Album Review: Angriff - Sodomy In The Convent
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings
Whilst Angriff may only be a duo, comprising José Rocha – Guitar, bass, drums, and OJ Laranjo – vocals, their first full-length album in over 15 years is a nasty thrashing beast which maintains the Portuguese outfit’s continued manifest against religious fanaticism.
Ten tracks over 35 minutes. It’s short sharp shock time and whilst their brand of thrash is by no means ground-breaking, it’s incredibly solidly performed, full of banks of heavy riffing and pummelling drumming, with Laranjo’s gravel-laved vocal delivery perfect for the type of anti-religious lyrical content the band focus on.
I’m not familiar with the band’s history although I’m aware they’ve been in operation with various line-ups since 1997, with a revolving door of musicians up until 2012. With their last full-length ‘Under the Decadence’ in 2006 and an EP ‘Art of Aggression’ released in 2010, Angriff (German for ‘Attack’) are clearly intent on making up for lost time.
They’ve followed a traditional blueprint with ‘The Bishop’ a one-minute acoustic instrumental which leads into the ferocious first assault of ‘No Saviours No Gods’. From there the battery is relentless and intense, an all-out aural attack which recalls the likes of Slayer, Kreator, Destruction and Sodom. The title track is preceded by a sound clip, reportage of the conviction of a catholic priest for sexual offences against children before the track explodes into a maelstrom of aggression and pulsing thrash. It’s got a raw and dirty vibe to it despite the overall polished production which the album benefits from. More towards the Sodom death metal catalogue, it’s a thunderous song which blitzes ferociously at 100mph.
As you might expect from an all-out thrash record, there is little pause from the driving riffage and that’s the same as you move into the second half of the album. ‘The Baron of Doom’ is just one of the tracks that pulverise with more driving riffs and punishing drumming. ‘Farewell’ is the aptly titled closing track and it’s a blistering sprint finish, concluding an album that does exactly what it promised. Thrashes with intent from start to finish. With its undoubted Teutonic thrash influences, this is a pleasing album which works at every level.
