CoC : Terrorizer - Darker Days Ahead : Review

Terrorizer - _Darker Days Ahead_
(Century Media, 2006)
by: Jackie Smit (7 out of 10)

Old school death metal with a grindcore mentality is probably the most accurate way to describe Terrorizer's surprise comeback effort, and it's ironic really. In many ways, prior to this release, Terrorizer could perhaps have been regarded as a true vanguard of the elitist ideal; a renegade outfit whose brief and almost faultless explosion on to the extreme music scene left a King Kong-sized buttprint on the genre that continues to exercise a tangible influence on much of what hits the shelves these days. The trouble with all of this is that, to an increasing degree, the precedent that was set for speed and aggression on _World Downfall_ has become only a part of what makes up the modern extreme metal outfit, and so it's hardly surprising that its successor, following a similar modus operandi, should come across as quite mundane by comparison.

What small changes have been made to the existing formula have only exasperated the situation even further. Songs are longer, but by no means display the depth or diversity required to keep them interesting. Consequently, what could have been short, calculated bursts of unfettered rancor become repetitive, bloated and just plain boring. Likewise, there's little trace of the heavily debated experimental touches, with the most leftfield ideas only truly manifesting themselves during an entirely painful and superfluous outro.

Despite numerous flaws, _Darker Days Ahead_ is certainly not devoid of any redeeming qualities. The sound of brigadeer Pete Sandoval issuing gattling gun blasts from behind the drum stool is of itself worth the cash that this disc will set you back. But at its peak, Terrorizer's sophomore effort is a pleasant way to pass thirty minutes. Life-changing it most certainly is not.

Contact: http://www.myspace.com/terrorizergrindcore/

(article published 20/7/2006)