### The Day Of The Beast: The day of the beast

#### 22/10/08 || Euthanatos

I think The Day of the Beast was originally a horror movie. I’m not sure, but I think so. That’s a good name for a band, I’ll give them that. Throw in the fact that the band plays thrash metal, and it’s all good. Now, the thrash metal portrayed here on this first album of theirs isn’t really your typical, 80’s, Kreator-Destruction thrash metal. It isn’t proto-thrash, nor retro-thrash, it’s somewhere in between, kind of like a cross between Artillery, Sodom and Satan; the Devil, not some band. I don’t actually know if there is a band called Satan out there, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Anyway, I say that because blackened thrash would be the most appropriate way to define these guys. Know those Germans, Desaster? There you go.

While I like a lot of the riffs here, I’m a bit miffed at the overall production and song structures. Things tend to go a bit all over the place, confusing the listener. When they settle down into more thrashy or more black metal parts, the band shines. The vocals are what you’d typically expect when crossing a black metal goat and a thrash metal skunk; rasp, aggressive, not entirely comprehensible, but not sounding like a pig squeal either. For this type of sound, it’s flawless.

I can understand the appeal of a dirtier production, particularly on the guitars, because of the heavy influence of black metal on this band. But I think with the level of technicality they’re putting in their songs, it’s inevitable to wish for something much better, clearer. Since this is their first album, I’ll cut them some slack, but come back with something a little more understandable next time. Or I’ll stick a trident in your gonads.

The cover: It’s pretty funny, but in a good way, as it reminds me of those terribly awesome covers from the 80’s. A lot of devils and stuff. That’s the spirit.

6 hundred and sixty sixes out of 10.

- Information
- Released: 2008
- Label: Canonical Hours
- Website: www.dayofthebeast.com
- Band
- Steve: vocals
- KC: guitar, vocals
- Eric: guitar
- Justin: bass
- Jeremy: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Pangea Rising
- 02. Predator’s Path
- 03. Beyond Choronzon
- 04. Harvest of the Heretics
- 05. Dead, yet dreaming
- 06. He Who Shuns the Light
- 07. The Crawling Chaos
- 08. Awakening the Morningstar
- 09. De Vermis Mysteriis
- 10. Upon the Throne
- 11. Outro