GOMORRA – Dealer of Souls
Release Date: 9th December 2022
Label: Noble Demon
Bandcamp
Genre: Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal.
FFO: Iced Earth, Burning Witches, Destruction, Grave Digger, Demons & Wizards.
Review By: Rick Farley
Switzerland based power metal thrashers; Gomorra are set to release sophomore full length, Dealer of Souls, onto an unsuspecting metal universe. A potent blend of thrashy riffs, soaring dynamic vocals, and fucking heavy metal attitude.
War of Control ferociously kicks Dealer of Souls off after a brief minute-long instrumental. Fast double bass and tremolo picked high notes scorch into a thrashing chuggy verse riff. Pounding bass and drums cave your chest in while lead singer Jonas Ambühl coarsely sings until he hits crystal clear high notes capable of breaking glass. The energetic, striking riffs combined with a memorable and very sing along chorus create a huge epic feel to the song. A heavy metal style melody before the shredding solos switches up the feel of the track enough to not sound so traditional standard verse, chorus, verse, chorus. Instrumental aside, this is a great way to start the album, tons of ferocity and venomous battle like feel. Big thrashy riffs, unbelievable Rob Halford style highs, and memorable hooks will have your hair twirling like a pro.
The mighty, Stand United, is sheer warrior like badassery. Major Iced Earth vibes here, which in my world is not a bad thing. Galloping guitar riff triplets chug viciously with staggering headbanging power. Guest vocalist Laura Guldemond (Burning Witches) makes her presence felt with possessed shrieking screams and wicked range. Both vocalists bring an almost growl-like black metal raspy edge to different parts of the song, mixed gloriously with gang style highs. The charging power metal riffs underneath the explosive leads, ramp up the speed of the track with stylistic intensity, before the headbanging chug kicks your ass all over again. Guitarists Damir Eskic (Destruction) and Dominic Blum, both bring blistering solos and heavy crunchiness like a horde of barbarians ready to strike. The awesome factor on this track is extremely high. If you don’t feel like wielding a sword and pulverizing something with it, you’re probably listening to the wrong music.
German thrash metal mixed with Judas Priest, influences Dealer as a fast paced, power-thrash, galloping beast. Gritty wailing to shouting gang vocals give the tyrannical foundation of crushing bass from Arman Hadzic and raging drums from Stefan Hösli a little extra nastiness. This is a full on juggernaut with uncompromised metal attitude steamrolling everything. The song only takes a breath from ferocity for the big melodies and slinky bassline right before the guitar solos tear your pansy face off. A complete tooth shattering knockout punch of tight riffs, powerful ball shrivelling falsetto vocals, heavy galloping bass, virtuosic guitar licks, and punishing drums. It’s impossible to not want to kick up pit dirt and then throw it at someone who doesn’t like this kind of ass-kicking music.
Dealer of Souls ends up being exactly the kind of lasting impression heavy fucking metal that every fan needs sometimes. A blend of fun, groovy, insanely fast, huge energy, headbanging songs that are a shot of battle cry worthy grandiose. Unafraid to just fucking cut loose and thrash the hell out of some power metal. Great sounding production and memorable songs will have you coming back over and over again. Gomorra showcases the absolute finest from the worlds of heavy, power and thrash metal, making this release one hell of a good time.
(4 / 5)
