Album Review: Vindicator - Whispers of Death
Reviewed by Gareth Pugh
Ohio’s Vindicator have been tearing it up since 2005, although first album “There Will Be Blood” didn’t arrive until 2008, but 2025 sees them celebrate the twentieth anniversary with a brand-new album, and their fifth full length overall; “Whispers of Death”. It also sees the return of original vocalist: Marshall Law, his first since 2010’s “The Antique Witcheries” and taking over from rhythm guitarist Vic Stown, who is still very much a band member but will now concentrate on guitar and songwriting duties.
The band have returned with renewed vigour on “Whispers of Death”, the title track builds nicely with an escalating riff, bass and drums pulse in the background before the band kicks into full force around the minute mark. Law’s return is noticeable from his first screech, his voice is more original and powerful than Stown, who wasn’t terrible by any means, but it’s good to have Marshall back on the mic, although he seems to go for a harsher execution this time around compared to his older more melodic vocals he had on “The Antique Witcheries” which brought Dave Mustaine to mind. ‘Charnel Pastures’ flies out of the gates with plenty of vim and vigour, even throwing a few blast beats into the mix and a slightly black metal feel.
Let me warn you, this album takes no prisoners when it comes to brutality and out and out thrash, with little or no let up. The single ‘Thirst for Violence’ does exactly what it says on the tin, with pummelling riffs and manic vocals, but despite this aggression still sports a strong chorus. ‘Your World Dies in Flame’ and ‘Exhaustion’ pile on the riffs, with no let-up in hostility or velocity. ‘Novocain’ doesn’t as its name suggests, give any real relief, but is a transitory melodic interlude, the amusingly titled ‘Merry Evenings Make Sad Mournings’ utilises some nice dual guitar leads in the intro, and the solos highlight the high level of musicianship on show throughout. ‘Abominable Intelligence’ is the most experimental track here, but it’s actually one of the least effective, with a monotonous groove and some ill thought out spoken vocals, I get what they were trying to achieve, but unfortunately it falls a bit flat to these ears. The album concludes with one of the strongest tracks; ‘Ripper Attack’ is an assortment in different ways to pound your brain, transitioning between fast and slow riffing effortlessly, but with a memorable gang vocal, before the outro ‘Obsoletion Complete’ soothes your bleeding ears with its gentle acoustics.
“Whispers of Death” is a solid modern thrash album, but make no bones about it, there’s nothing new or innovative here, it’s the very definition of ‘meat and potatoes’ thrash! Well written, well performed and well produced, but ultimately, fairly irrelevant, unless for some reason you’re a Vindicator fanatic. The bottom line is: I enjoyed this album for what it is, but I’m not sure I will ever listen to it again!
