NECRONOMICON „Invictus”

Total Metal Records, 2020

Music: Thrash Metal
Website:
http://necronomicon-online.de
https://www.facebook.com/necronomiconofficial
https://metalscraprecords.bandcamp.com/album/necronomicon-invictus
DUration: 54:00 minutes (11 tracks)
Country: Germany

NECRONOMICON is not only the title of the legendary book invented by Howard Phillips Lovecraft, but it also is the name of the legendary German Thrash Metal band, whose origins date back to 1984, and which functions with some breaks to this day. The seventh album of the band – “Invictus”, originally was released in 2012, and it has been re-released for the first time thanks to the Ukrainian label Total Metal Records. This re-release includes a bonus track and the new cover art.

This album combines the tradition of furious and rough German Thrash Metal with some significant features of the melodicity of American Thrash Metal from Bay Area…

Strong and distinct songs, heavy and predatory, full of guitar licks and accents sound very crushing, regardless of whether they are fast or slow down. However, between these hard riffs and drum’s beats there are short melodies and even clean guitars evoking a dark atmosphere, some mysterious mood…

Hoarse screaming multi-colored vocals transformed into growling leaves no illusions. Here is sharp and aggressive. Their arrangement at particular phases of phrases gives a kind of dialogue characteristics. Freddy also proves that he can sings in Rock’s style…
The real surprise is the ballad track “Before the Curtain Falls”. Thrash Metal ballads always work well. In the song we will find the traditional instrumentation, melancholic introduction and progression towards stronger beats, an atmospheric solo and melodic singing, a catchy chorus as well as the sounds of the violin and keyboards were also used, which raised this Thrash Metal ballad above average. The album is crowned with another surprise, an acoustic version of “Possessed Again”, in which the musicians show their broad musical horizons… Flamenco Music?

Some songs precede short intros or are “announced” by mysterious declamations or monologues. Overall, the material, as for Thrash Metal, is atmospheric in its own way.

Tracklist:
1. Invictus
2. Unleashed
3. Bloody Bastards
4. Thoughts Running Free
5. Unconquered
6. Upon Black Wings
7. Face to the Wall
8. Pandora’s Box
9. Before the Curtain Falls
10. Possessed by Evil 2011
11. Possessed Again (Unplugged)

Line-up:
Freddy – Guitars & Vocals
Andi Nagel – Bass
Klaus Enderlin – Drums
Andy Gern – Guitars

Rate: 7.5/10