SUICIDAL WINDS

Sweden's SUICIDAL WINDS have remained steadfastly underground and out of the spotlight (intentionally or otherwise) since forming in 1992. The last Pulverised released from the band, "Total Death 'n Live", offered 15 live tracks (14 from Germany in 2006 and one in Holland in 2004) and a nasty cover of KREATOR's "Total Death". It served as a decent overview of the band's output. But new full-length "Chaos Rising" is probably most representative of the act's rampaging (if periodically generic) blackened thrash attack.

The quintet has definitely not reinvented the wheel here, although most fans of the style aren't looking for that anyway. The warm mix features a razor sharp guitar sound, audile bass lines, natural sounding drums, and the relatively intelligible (and raspy as hell) vocals of Matthias Johansson. With the exception of an intro piece called "Slowly we Frost" and an interesting slow/mid-paced creeper with an acoustic opening section called "Ballade of Death", the approach is primarily pedal to the medal, although a few pace breaks are incorporated. The only issue is that the style is one that makes it difficult for SUICIDAL WINDS to really stand apart from the pack, a handful of real scorchers (e.g. the title track) aside. That said, there is nothing here that's sub par either.

As always, it's all in the delivery and on "Chaos Rising" SUICIDAL WINDS do play it like they mean it. This is no blackened thrash wannabe outfit, as the band's roots in the scene run deep. Assuming that you're a big fan of the style, you'll find more than enough on "Chaos Rising" to keep your boat afloat.