Album Review: Helgrind - Insurrection
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings
With the burgeoning British thrash scene showing little sign of breaking, British thrash legends Helgrind return to the scene that they last graced with 2011’s release ‘Inquisition’. Although the band have been active since 2000, with a brief hiatus in 2013, it’s been a decade since new music has emerged from their camp. Well, not quite, as a brief conversation with vocalist and bassist Paula Nelson confirmed that ‘Insurrection’ had surfaced a couple of years ago. Intended for release in 2017, label politics prevented ‘Insurrection’ surfacing despite the band having already begun touring the album. To cut a long story short, with discussions with Metal Rocka Recordings, the band have secured a worldwide release. With re-recorded, remixed, and remastered guitars, bass and vocals, the time is right for the band to finally unleash their brand of demonic thrash on the world.
Let’s face it if you like thrash metal you’ll lap this up. It’s full throttle, aggressive and intense from start to finish. The pace on the opening track ‘Dead Shall Rise’ is breath-taking and combined with the montage of news clips relating to morbid murders, it sets the tone for a brutal 40 minutes which denies any opportunity for breath. You really need to grab a lungful and dive in. The Slayer sound of ‘Massacre the Suffering’ sees Nelson in full Araya mode, which I see as a good thing. This is no tribute or replica band. Helgrind bring enough grit to grind their way into the wounds, rub it raw and leave with an ache that takes weeks to scab over before finally the urge to pick it becomes too great.
The relentless pace is matched by a rage that drives throughout the record. But there are harmonies, melodies and more which invigorate the sound that old school fans will remember. The chug that opens ‘Not My Enemy’ is interspersed with snatches of intricate guitar work that is quickly dispelled by a fist to the throat all-out powerful thrashing beast that drives and thunders. There’s little subtlety, but you don’t want this in thrash. You want power, punishing riffs and a fat, thick sound that gives your bass bins a real challenge. Helgrind bring that in spades. And suddenly, ‘Not My Enemy’ gives way to a semi–Metal Church feel before a ripping solo brings the song to a conclusion.
There’s more firepower here than some countries possess in their entire armed forces. Tracks like ‘Breeding Hate’ and the dynamic ‘Harvest’ simply crush, the bruising aural assault flattening all in their path. The music isn’t hugely original at times. Raise the Flag for example echoes the Teutonic style of Kreator a little too closely, but it’s visceral, punishing and simply bludgeons. Yes, it may not grab every metal fan, and the vocals are a little one dimensional, but you work with what you have, and they suit Helgrind’s style perfectly. It’s an album that should inspire pits a plenty when the band hit the road in 2022, and if you haven’t taken the plunge on an order, then maybe grabbing a copy of the fifth album from a band who are integral to the British thrash scene is an option you should exercise.
