ALBUM REVIEW: Usurper, "Lords Of The Permafrost"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 22/03/2019

Label: Soulseller Records

“Lords of the Permafrost” represents the best comeback any fan of the band could have hoped for after so long away.  Slick and primitive in equal measure, the album represents primal aggression delivered expertly. Recommended.

“Lords of The Permafrost” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Skull Splitter

2). Beyond the Walls of Ice

3). Lords of the Permafrost

4). Cemetery Wolf

5). Warlock Moon

6). Gargoyle

7). Black Tide Rising

8). Mutants of the Iron Age

The Review:

Usurper return! These Chicago warlords were hard at the coal face through the 90s and early 2000s before splitting around 2007 (I think). I recall reading a lengthy explanation of vocalist General Diabolical Slaughter's resignation from the band many years ago in Terrorizer that went along the lines of the fact that he “was done” and now only wanted to play video games and smoke weed. Perhaps the whole band felt the same way a few years later?!

No matter, they are back and sounding as vicious as ever. Naturally, the band benefit from modern recording techniques as demonstrated by the clear yet very gnarly production on offer on “Lords of The Permafrost”. The opening of “Skull Splitter” recalls the early days of death metal- bands often got in some calm before the storm- but from there on out, this is heavy and feral stuff. Blackened thrash/death probably sums these guys up and they do it with all the commitment of Venom at their best. There are some huge riffs, great vocals and inventive drum patterns (bonus points for the use of a closed high hat).

The chug of “Beyond The Walls of Ice” sees the band demonstrate their ability to still get necks snapping with a serious groove. It's good to see the band stick to fantasy and supernatural themes; it's just not the kind of forum for nuanced political criticism or anything socio-political. This is metal, as purely forged as any.

The title track is a rolling tank, “Cemetery Wolf” is aggressive and rabid, “Warlock Moon” mixes tempos and high and low pitched riffing to good effect. “Gargoyle” and “Black Tide Rising” continue a fairly furious assault before the manic “Mutants of The Iron Age” brings the carnage up one more level before the album concludes.

“Lords of the Permafrost” represents the best comeback any fan of the band could have hoped for after so long away. This is a must for fans of Venom, Entombed, Whipstriker, Skeletonwitch etc. Slick and primitive in equal measure, the album represents primal aggression delivered expertly. Recommended.

“Lords Of The Permafrost” is available HERE

Band info: bandcamp || facebook