Cruel Force – Dawn of the Axe
Release Date: 22nd September 2023
Label: Shadow Kingdom
Bandcamp
Genre: Heavy Metal, Blackened Thrash, Deathrash.
FFO: Knife, Exodus, Bewitcher.
Review By: Rob Woodhouse
Germany’s Cruel Force return to the heavy metal coalface after having a decade or so off. During that little hiatus, their beloved craft of speed metal/blackened thrash… whatever you want to call it, has become quite a little movement. From deepest darkest Germany to the dusty plains of the USA, bands are embracing the speed metal format in their droves. Knife, Bewitcher and anyone else you may care to mention are living the heavy metal dream, at speed…
So now seems like a good a time as ever to make your comeback, and Cruel Force are certainly back!
With guitar tones channelled directly from 1982 and those typical no-nonsense vocals; nothing here is polished. Cruel Force are dusty, grainy and straight to the point!
Opening up with a slightly ill-fitting instrumental intro number, the Arabic tones of Azrael‘s Dawn is not enough to detract from the meat of the album that follows. It’s not all that random an intro, but you know… not exactly necessary one either.
The album proper erupts into action with the title track. Speedy riffs bound by echoing drums swirl into action complimented by some blood-curdling vocals. We’re off and running! Night of Thunder ups the ante on the speed-front, and although some of the lyrics are a bit predictable, this track still packs a mighty hammer blow and keeps the momentum going nicely.
Death Rides is a little more thrashy to begin with, but soon breaks up into a chuggy headbanger. But these are all headbangers. There are no ballads on Dawn Of The Axe.
That little hint of the pyramids rears its head again on Across The Styx. Maybe there was method in the madness after all! Power Surge is a late contender for the best track on this very solid little album. The drums interchange from sounding like they are being played in next door’s kitchen to whipping you around the face from either side of your headphones. A bit like a power surge, eh.
Dawn Of The Axe is an unpolished and filthy collection of old school metal which yields few surprises but packs a mighty punch! Well worth a spin on a Friday evening with a few select beers.
If you like what you hear from Cruel Force, then Shadow Kingdom are also to releasing the band’s first two albums on reissue. 
(3.5 / 5)
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