Soul Collector (Reissue)
Panzerchrist
Since the coming of the new century, Death Metal started to sound with improved speed and violence, even more extreme than during the 90's. And many albums of such time bears a level of extreme musical brutality than could be unexpected for old Metalheads (it's usual to see fans from the genre during the late years of the 80's complaining about such features), but it's a matter of evolution. And this reissue of PANZERCHRIST's "Soul Collector" can depict what these words mean.
This Danish ancient band shows a brutal form of Blackened Death Metal, using an unexpected brutality on their songs, but with some goo melodies (as can be heard on "Panzergrenadier" guitar solos), with a good level of instrumental technique (especially on the drums), and a massive and addictive energy that charms the fans. And even on such time, their musical work was different from the usual approach of the genre. And this aspect justifies this new reissue (on colored vinyl for the first time with limited copies), thanks to the efforts of Emanzipation Productions.
The production brought many professionals into the stage: Michael Kopietz, Reno Kiilerich and Jan Borsing worked on recording and mixing (with Jan taking care of the sound engineering as well), and with Ossian Ryner and Bjarke Ahlstrand, who created a massive and brutal sonority, but keeping it crude and nasty, even with this remastering done for this new release of the album (done at Angioni Studios). But it depicts clearly what those days shown on this aspect.
The band's musical work is really aggressive and nasty, as a war machine passing by a battlefield crushing its enemies. This can be heard clearly on songs as "Das Leben Will Gewonnen Sein" (a massive and fast song, filled with an aggressive energy and a very good work from bass guitar and drums), "Der Panzertöter" (another aggressive and fast song, with grunts contrasting with snarling screams in the middle of the musical onslaught imposed by the band), "Panzergrenadier" (due it's slower approach, the abrasiveness of the song is better felt, especially due the excellent riffs and solos), "Unser Höchste Ehre" (besides its speed, this song shows a very good work on the guitars once more, filling all the spaces), and the oppressive "Zum Gegenstoss" are the ones that shows why they're a cult band on the extreme scene.
Be prepared for some bonecrushing and neckbreaking songs, because it's what "Soul Collector" can do, and what PANZERCHRIST is up to.
8 / 10
Excellent
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Soul Collector (Reissue)" Track-listing:
1. Das Leben Will Gewonnen Sein
2. Y2Krieg
3. Der Panzertöter
4. Panzergrenadier
5. Schwarz Ist Unser Panzer (Ich Hatt' Einen Kameraden)
6. Unser Höchste Ehre
7. Kalt Wie Der Finsternis
8. Zum Gegenstoss
Panzerchrist Lineup:
Bo Summer - Vocals
Karina Bundgaard - Bass
Michael Kopietz - Guitars, Bass
Reno Kiilerich - Drums
Michael Enevoldsen - Songwriting
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