Dark Invitation To Armageddon

The Scourger

Ok, let think for a moment (yeah the metalheads can also think); Finland has decided […]
By Dimitris Kontogeorgakos
June 10, 2008
The Scourger - Dark Invitation To Armageddon album cover

Ok, let think for a moment (yeah the metalheads can also think); Finland has decided to send Metal bands to the (miserable) Eurovision Contest making the entire process slightly interesting for us.  But when you have THE SCOURGER why in the Hell's name choose the Finnish version of MANOWAR that come with silly sounding name TERASBETONI? Seriously now, read this review to understand my rhetoric question.
THE SCOURGER were formed in the year of 2003 in Helsinki by GANDALF's singer  Jari Hurskainen and the drummer  Seppo Tarvainen. The first publicity breakthrough happened with the single  Hatehead that entered the Finnish singles charts. Blind Date With Violence was the band's first full length release and was followed by more successful single releases. So, here we have THE SCOURGER's second LP release that comes with a cover artwork created by Joe Petagno who is the creator of MOTORHEAD's famous logo.
After the short intro comes the fast No Redemption that says everything about the band's music profile. If I hadn't read the band's bio sheet then I could swear that this could be a German Thrash Metal act! Indeed, the vocals are gravely inspired/influenced by Mille Petrozza's early higher pitched screams while the guitars will bring to your mind DESTRUCTION and of course KREATOR. The songs follow the classic bridge-chorus-guitar solo pattern that many of the new bands have forgotten. The twin guitars have the leading role here with distinct Thrash almost SLAYER-ish riffs support by the solid drum work. Songs like In The Hour Of Ruin, Never Bury The Hatchet or Cranium Crush (excellent title) will also surface some EXODUS influences during their Rob Dukes era. My only complaint about this one has to do the sound production and especially the drums; sometimes the sound of the drum kicks was almost annoying spoiling the great headbanging atmosphere of the album.  
As you can understand by the above influence references the album is excellent for headbanging, crowd surfing and other violent acts inside mosh pits. In my ears THE SCOURGER have managed to gather all the fine moments of the Thrash scene in a single album without sounding like a copycat band. So, if you want to break the salts on your rusty neck then you are invited to THE SCOURGER's Armageddon! Check the live recorded Hatehead video below.
  

8 / 10

Excellent

"Dark Invitation To Armageddon" Track-listing:

Lex Talionis
No Redemption
In The Hour Of Ruin
To Tame A Life
Never Bury The Hatchet
Deformed Reality
Dark Invitation To Armageddon
Reign In Bestial Sin
Beyond Judas
Cranium Crush
Last Nail To The Coffin
Vicious Circle (from the Hatehead single)
Hatehead (live)

The Scourger Lineup:

Jaska - Vocals
Timo - Guitar
Jani - Guitar
Kimmo - Bass
Seppo - Drums

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