KROTALUS' is a fuckin' great name for a band, and I wonder why didn't anyone adopt this name in prior. The logo is cool, too, a mix of BELPHEGOR's and SARCOFAGO's and NECRODEATH's ones. A twisted/skeptics/evile figure boasting the artwork, and off we go to some interesting and kinda unique mix of Thrash/Death/Black Metal in this self-financed release. Can someone sign this band now?
KROTALUS hails from South Carolina, US and has been active for four years now. Coming into life by both Chad Bradley and Clay Lytle (he has, by now, departed and the band seeks a new skinsman), the impression I got while listening to their first full-length, Blood Offerings, is that the kinda aim to create a multi-dimensional extreme Metal blend. Meaning: there's the aggression of Thrash Metal music as portrayed by classic bands like SLAYER, DESTRUCTION and CORONER(!), there's the neck ripping Death Metal vibe in the vein of (fast) OBITUARY or MORBID ANGEL/CANNIBAL CORPSE (on one hand) and/or AT THE GATES (on the other hand) while a sufficient dose of more-than-Norwegian Black Metal spits fire here and there, following the guidelines of DISSECTION or IMMORTAL. All this has to do with the music featured herein, since the vocals use the donation of Schmier's ruthless singing with a part of modern American Extreme Metal (not Nu, I'd dare to say, but with some of the NWOAHM approach). Chad breaks loose non-stop.
The drums are pounding all over, varying from blastbeats to speedy demos; rare are the mid or up tempo divisions. The guitars you'll taste the hate with, endless and vicious, sick and arrogant in soloing (things could have been somehow more 'punctual' here, but nothing in question in general). There's a certain aura KROTALUS does not won't to be taken into consideration as a 'new style' band, even if the notable production evaluates them as a 'fresh' band. And that's a good thingie going, since - I guess - this is the point of importance for a new band wanting to shake the Metal world.
Bearing in mind there are tons of acts copying the Florida or Gothenburg directives, it's a clear matter of 'quality' taste to show interest in KROTALUS. A really superior Thrash/Death/Black Metal band. Really, who can sign these guys now?
P.S.: The Sea Of Vengeance trilogy at the end of the album is something (commercially) grand bands would be jealous of.