Review Summary: I mean just look at the album art and let that be your summary.
Thrash is often a genre that plays out as being hit or miss amongst the metal community. The repetitive formulas create a wall, preventing the listener from "thrashing" as hard as possible. This is due to the lack of creativity and strong fitting compositions. While these setbacks come with the territory, there are still artist doing their best to keep the Black Thrash genre alive. Utilizing the best proven formulas and adding a darkened theme to both the lyrics and actual music, Ketzer create a worthwhile listen showcasing the best the genre has to offer. Unfortunately, as noted above, the genre is still stagnate, and Ketzer have done nothing more than written a solid record. There is nothing new here.
Ketzer's style is one that is very aggressive and manifest’s a bold nature. They were playing once live at a venue and this stupid fan jumped on the stage and did what was a pretty cool sounding scream. The bassist just flat out pushed the guy off the stage with a force that can only be manifested by the German's. I already had love for Ketzer hearing how great their music is, but that display of force made me fall "in" love with them.
This 5 piece outfit is made up of what looks like to be some badass teenagers who just loves creating some f''cking badass music. The lead guitarist has a really hot right hand technique that blazes tremolos with perfection and can easily transfer into a ripping solo that doubles in tremolo speed instantaneously; such as the one found in "To Each Saint his Candle". The rhythm guitarist doesn't nothing more than hold riff rhythms while the lead advances, and occasionally handling an interlude to a tempo change.
The drums are very solid and are capable of anything the thrash/death genre has to offer but doesn’t give that needed push to make this a more enjoyable album. When you solid guitars and riffs, the drums have to be that factor that takes everything to the next level. Trust they are good but are lacking. For an example of drum potential from this album, check out "Inverted Cross"; which also happens to be my favorite track just behind "Crushing the Holy". The bass is audible but is not a highly of this album.
I have a particular fixation on the vocal approach used here. First off, the lyrics fit the feel of the riffs well. "Satan's Boundaries Unchained" comes off as concept album or a chronological story. It begins with Satan being unleashed from the fiery depths off hell and running pillage on the holy ones and those in opposition to him. In relation to the subject, I am neutral but the theme arouses interest into the contemplations, whether possible or fiction. The vocal style is in strong relation to Chuck Schuldiner’s high pitched, decipherable output. Vocalist "Infernal Destroyer" gives his best performance on "Crushing the Holy".
"Satan's Boundaries Unchained" should be noted as one of the best thrash releases of 2009, as well as giving Ketzer the steps needed to possibly create something far better. Stay tuned for their next release to come out mid-late this year.
