Invicta – Triumph and Torment
Release Date: 31st March 2023
Label: Sublevel Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Melodic Death Metal, Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal.
FFO: Revocation, Crimson Shadows, Kreator, Havok, NWOBHM.
Review By: Rick Farley
If you were to somehow meld together Revocation, Kreator and Iron maiden, you would surely end up with Ontario’s Invicta. That’s about the best description I’ve seen for a band recently. Totally on the money. Part thrash metal, part melodic death metal that’s always pushing forward with NWOBHM melodies and face melting solos. Invicta is a force of some old school flavours mixed with modern intensity. Distinctly showing their own voice but flashing their influences with ease and flare. Canada always seems to bring out these hybrid bands that utilize everything great about traditional heavy metal mixed with ultra thrashy galloping, and death metal aggressiveness.
Triumph and Torment marks the bands second full length, set to be released on Sublevel Records. Complex harmonies, some serious guitar shredding and razor sharp riffs that twist, turn and contort the song structures into a raving lunacy, are the potency behind their strong compositions. The guitars bite like a venomous snake, continuously striking without warning. The backbone of bass and drums are like a pissed off bulldozer driver crushing everything in sight, adding immense weight to the rapid, jagged tempos, while also bringing into the fray, some infectious hooks. Musically, it’s a maze of swarming spirit dead set on hitting you from everywhere with everything, and it works remarkably well. The vocals are more in the barking mid death metal vein, which ramps up the intensity even more. Throw in some well-placed gang vocals on top of everything, and you have yourself a thrashy, groovy straight killing machine.
Everything about this album screams a good time. This is shut your brain off, break everything and headbang the fuck out of your neck type music. 80’s thrash attitude wrapped up in a tight package of well written violence. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is just basic thrash stuff because it’s not. These are highly skilled musicians, not afraid to show off their chops and just fucking go for it. Songs like Force of Annihilation has nasty trilling guitars, punishingly fast double bass, and searing leads that will set your hair on fire. A catchy old school melody reels you in only to forcefully gut punch you straight to the dirt. Parasitic Reign is a tour de force of 80s thrash, skank beating its way to your oblivion. Galloping guitars, hoarse vocals and slinky bass all complete the circle of assured pit violence. Closing track Triumph and Torment is an eleven-minute journey through everything the band has laid out in previous tracks. Taking glorious Maiden style harmonies that sound battle ready and wrap them around a maelstrom of riffs that are constantly charging. Hooky vocals that often feel like a call to arms. Bits of acoustic, tech, groove, black metal, and small hints of progressive metal all find its way into this monstrous track at various times, making this the best representation of the entire album and what Invicta is all about.
Ten gripping tracks at fifty minutes of vicious melodic death/thrash fit for a battle in hell. Triumph and Torment will have you screaming along, throwing your fist up in the air, and whipping your hair around like a fucking heavy metal badass. Honestly, you might not find a more fun album at any point this year. This is exactly what metal needs to be sometimes, crazy balls to the wall aggression that’s intricate, well composed, and executed by highly skilled musicians. Absolutely triumphant!
(4 / 5)
