Avarice – Avarice
Release Date: 9th June 2023
Label: UPRISING! Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Death Metal, Thrash Metal.
FFO: Testament, Overkill, Kreator, Sodom, Warbringer, Horrendous, Ares Kingdom.
Review By: Carlos Tirado
I’m biased, of course, as a converted Swede, but I’ve always felt that Denmark has fallen short in terms of their metal output compared to the other Nordic countries. While there are some solid bands, even tiny Iceland can boast a more interesting metal scene. However, I must admit that Avarice has caught my attention with their debut self-titled album, starting off with a track also titled Avarice. The repetition of the title did raise some concerns for me even before I began listening. It’s still too early in the album to feel this egocentric!
Fortunately, the second track, Between the Trenches, immediately grabs you by the throat with its pure Death/Thrash sound and a skillful balance that is often hard to achieve. The influence of Overkill is clear in this song, but if you’re looking for a more aggressive Thrash sound akin to Testament or Ares Kingdom, Slaughter is a standout track. Overall, Avarice (the album) addresses a question many of us have had: What would happen if Testament or Sodom decided to venture into full Death metal? The answer is likely that they would create a great band either way, but it’s refreshing to hear a more updated interpretation of Death/Thrash.
Return to Strength features brutal vocals and takes an unexpected turn, picking up the pace in an exciting way. One aspect I appreciate about this album is that, despite its direct and aggressive nature, it takes moments to breathe and even experiment a bit. This contributes to the album’s overall positive impression—it maintains a good pace, never becoming dull or overly exhausting. Although I could nitpick about the excessively loud production, the brick wall sound of the quiet parts, or the occasional uncharacteristic heavy bass drops, I believe these elements still work well together. However, I did feel that the album might have been one track too long.
There are also enjoyable melodic parts throughout the album that will please fans of the new school Kreator. You can find these moments in Blood Turns Black, Consumed by Fire, and the closing track, Conquer. Initially, its main melody reminded me of Trivium, which made me a bit apprehensive, but it soon evolves into something much cooler and avoids sounding cheesy. All in all, I believe Avarice is reviving the honor of Danish Metal, and I highly recommend giving this kick-ass album a listen. And let’s not forget about that beautiful cover art—after all, we all judge an album by its cover, right? Don’t try to deny it!
(4 / 5)
