Vader - The Empire Review

Vader – The Empire

Well here we have 33 minutes of new music from Poland’s finest, the almighty Vader. The Empire is the title of the album a more fitting title would have been simply- 10 new songs!

Vader over the years have rightly earned the nickname the “Motorhead of Death Metal” and rightfully so. The back catalogue is as long as your arm. Not a year goes by where they don’t have a release come out even if it’s a single and every other year like clockwork they put out a new album. Some are better than others, every so often they hit a bullseye and raise the bar for themselves but even when they don’t do that they at least reach the standard they have set and even their poorest of album will include a handful of classic tracks. Vader also I feel have gone beyond being a Death Metal band. They have reached the point where they are just…Metal and they are VADER! No one else sounds like them and they sound like no one else. You can play me 100 Death Metal tracks and I will point out the Vader track within seconds.

On this album they are not fucking around. The opening Track “Angels of Steel” has no introduction (even Angel of Death had an introduction!) it opens almost mid song you are just transported straight into the war zone that is a Vader album. “Prayer to the God of War” is a thrash fest that chugs along nicely and is quite catchy. As I mentioned Motorhead earlier tell me the opening section doesn’t sound like a vintage track by the rock and roll Gods? There’s changes in pace throughout the album but never in mood. Vader kick ass pure and simple. At 33 minutes the album blazes by with no track going over 5 minutes and only three tracks going over 4. The album smacks you over the head and leaves you wanting more.

Overall “The Empire” isn’t a case of “Same old” it’s a case of “Business as usual” I don’t think it’s a classic Vader album but it Vader doing what they do consistently and is a nice addition to their vault but ultimately Vader are a live band, this is just 10 new songs to add to their blistering live show.

8/10