REBEL SOULS „Dawn of Depravity”

Blood Fire Death Promotion, 2022

Music: Death Metal
Website:
https://www.facebook.com/rebelsouls.deathmetal/
https://rebelsouls.bandcamp.com/album/dawn-of-depravity
Duration: 41:44 (10 tracks)
Country: Germany / Spain

REBEL SOULS was founded in 2000 in Germany, in Chemnitz, but after three years it suspended its activities. It reborned with a reformed line-up in 2013 in Malaga, famous for its sunny weather and beautiful beaches. The current drummer of REBEL SOULS Amau Marti is also active in the Spanish metal bands NOCTEM, SARATOGA and AGATHOS. Previously, the German-Spanish band released three demos (they come from the first period of activity), one single and one full-time album. They list BLOODBATH, SUFFOCATION, HOUR OF PENANCE and KRISIUN as their musical affinities.

The cover of “Dawn of Depravity” is an interestingly crafted, ominous vision with lots of characters and an overwhelming amount of detail. Its character reminds me of some INCANTATION album covers.

The music that reigns on the latest release of the band from Malaga is aggressive death metal. Musically and lyrically, it is brutality without inhibitions, a relentless attack performed by very skilled instrumentalists. The drummer, also the guitarist, draws attention. They carry this team.

REBEL SOULS brings nothing new to death metal, but the dark atmosphere and addictive rhythm, some pulsation and catchiness of the melody attract attention. There are frequent changes of themes, rhythmic and melodic motifs, there always something is going on. Some songs have intros and outros of a negative, nihilistic nature. The tracks “Three Thousand Screams” and the two ending of the album “Rebel Souls” and “Virulent” are a bit different, more majestic, full of elation, but the latter with a greater component of violence and drama. I like these three tracks on the album the most. It should be mentioned that in several places it was possible to show the bass guitar playing for a short time.

Everything is played technically as the canons of death metal dictate. The brutality is crushing. In addition, REBEL SOULS is not boring, the content of the disc is varied. Despite of this in the music lacks an individual element, some individual features that distinguish this work from dozens (though maybe not hundreds) of other death metal bands. There is also no memory, no emotion, no madness. As if REBEL SOULS stopped at one point, it didn’t go to 100%. The album is good, but it could have been better.

Tracklist:
1. Dawn of Depravity
2. Trophonios
3. Poisoner of the Harvest
4. Corrupting the Lambs
5. Sea of Crises
6. Three Thousand Screams
7. Nihil Infinitum
8. Beneath the Veneer
9. Rebel Souls
10. Virulent

Line-up:
Stefan Hielscher – bass, vocal
Alex Guerrero – guitars, backing vocals
José María Tornay – guitars
Amau Marti – drums

Rate: 7.0/10