FATAL EMBRACE were formed in 1993 as NOSFERATU, renamed, and are active as FATAL EMBRACE since 1997. They are from Berlin, Germany. The Thrash Metal outfit released one EP and six full-length albums so far. Their seventh album “Seventh Sadistic Serenade” was produced by Tom Tschernig (XONOR). The album has a length of about 48 minutes, and it was released via German Heavy, Speed, and Thrash Metal specialists Iron Shield Records. No official video has been released yet. The first track of the album is “Revel In Violence”, and it starts with an acoustic pre-lude with classically inspired melodies. The track transitions into a fast old school Thrash Metal song with tight guitar riffing and crushing basslines. The vocals are harsh and vary around the medium end of the vocal range. While the verse parts are direct and aggressive, the choruses are driven by the melodies of the pre-lude, and the track slows down to a measured tempo. The track also includes a short break with a contributing lead guitar solo. Altogether, “Revel In Violence” is a strong opening track, making appetite for more. “Endure The Night” continues with the speed and aggression of the opening track. The basslines are crunching, and the guitar riffing is aggressive. The break offers a change towards mid-tempo, however, both lead guitar solos are played at breakneck speed. “Divide And Conquer” is another fast track with a lot of aggression in the riffing and the vocals. There are a few double-bass drums added to the verse parts and the choruses. The chorus part includes a short twist in pace towards mid-tempo. The first lead guitar solo kicks in after the first verse/chorus sequence. The break maintains the pace for a second lead guitar solo towards the end of the track.

“Burn With Desire” offers the first change in tempo. The track is a mixture of measured tempo and mid-tempo. The vocals are a bit more versatile by adding a few higher pitched screams to the track and there are also backing vocals present. Highlight of the track is the very contributing and extended lead guitar solo. “Where Life And Death Are One” has a powerful start with thunderous guitar riffing, leading into a fast verse part with tight Thrash Metal riffs. The basslines are once again very prominent, and the vocals utilize slightly deeper notes. The melodies have a certain catchiness with a few oriental inspirations at times. The lead guitar solo is pretty long but one of the track highlights. “Where Life And Death Are One” is surely one of my album favourites. “Blind Obedience” starts with the bass solo accompanied by the drums, leading into a mixture of mid-tempo and fast verse part. The guitar riffing is direct and aggressive and on top of sit the strong basslines. Another long and contributing lead guitar solo sums up the track. “Nice Boys” provides a change towards classical Heavy Metal as it is a cover song of the ROSE TATTOO classic. “Exiled Into Void” goes back to traditional Thrash Metal with pace, aggression, and tight guitar riffing. After a few songs with slightly deeper vocals, “Exiled Into Void” uses slightly higher pitched notes. The break slows down to mid-tempo for the guitar riffs and the vocals, however, pace is raised for the lead guitar solo. The track features once again strong basslines throughout.

“Legends Of Deliverance” starts with an extended, guitar-driven instrumental part, transitioning into a verse part at a measured tempo with a head-banging rhythm. The guitar riffing is devastating, and the vocals utilize once again deeper notes. The track offers a change in sound, starting with the guitar riffing, the drumming uses plenty of double-bass, and the vocals have many Death Metal vibes. The never-changing element are the crushing basslines. “A Force You Can’t Resist” reverts to the well-tried Thrash Metal approach with speed, aggression, cool Thrash Metal riffs and lead guitar contributions. The melodies have some catchiness and darkness during the choruses and the bridges. The break starts with a measured tempo, but it does not take long for the lead guitar solo to be played at fast pace. “A Force You Can’t Resist” is one of the album highlights. “Suicidal Chaos” has an instrumental start at measured tempo with grim melodies, leading into a verse part at crazy pace with flesh-ripping guitar riffing. The chorus parts circle back to measured tempo using the melodies introduced at the start of the track. The focus of the track is a delivery of dark melodies combined with pure Thrash Metal mayhem in the riffing and the lead guitar solos. “Suicidal Chaos” is surely another album highlight. The Thrash Metal assault ends with “Hellish Ground” and after an extended guitar-driven instrumental part, the track develops into another fast Thrash Metal delivery with tight guitar riffs, strong basslines, and aggression in the vocals. “Hellish Ground” is a good way to finish the album.

FATAL EMBRACE offer a very good Thrash Metal album. “Seventh Sadistic Serenade” is a traditional Thrash Metal delivery with all elements that we all love so much: fast and aggressive tracks, flesh-ripping guitar riffs, crushing basslines, and excellent lead guitar solos. Even though the genre is 40 years old, there is no repetition, and the songs sound always fresh and dynamic. The album is well produced. As someone, who listens to Thrash Metal for 40+years, I am delighted with the FATAL EMBRACE album, and I am sure Thrash Metal fans will love what they hear on “Seventh Sadistic Serenade”.