CoC : Throneum / Revelation of Doom - Total Regression! : Review

Throneum / Revelation of Doom - _Total Regression!_
(Pagan Records, 2007)
by: James Montague (6 out of 10)

An enjoyable yet largely pointless exercise, _Total Regression!_ sees Polish labelmates Throneum and Revelation of Doom offering two new tracks each along with a slew of cover songs from the bands that inspired them. As the name of the split album suggests, these influences lie firmly in the old-school of denim-patched thrash, tattoo-smothered death and spike-clad black metal. The thing is, though, that Throneum and Revelation of Doom already play very much in this style, so there's none of the curiosity value you might get from seeing a band step outside its usual sphere of existence. For example, Slayer's _Undisputed Attitude_ saw the thrash legends dabbling in punk, and although the album was ultimately underwhelming, there was some appeal in the original notion. Furthermore, Throneum and Revelation of Doom are small fish in a small pond, so unlike Slayer there's none of the E! News fanboy appeal in knowing how these guys got to where they are.

Of course, when a band with a bare bones level of competence plays songs by the likes of Unleashed, Sodom, Terrorizer, Impaled Nazarene and Hellhammer, the results are always going to be enjoyable; and indeed _Total Regression!_ is an energetic, headbanging 13-track, 37-minute shot of adrenaline. However, the bands' own songs tend to be overshadowed by the covers -- particularly Revelation of Doom, whose vocalist sounds like he's about to lapse into a coma with his tame growls.

So yeah, I kind of enjoy this album. But I have to question the bands' motives: are they promoting themselves or their influences? After all, even the mighty Darkthrone once claimed they were simply "selling albums for Bathory", although their place in history is assured so they can get away with such cheeky statements. As for _Total Regression!_, the main lesson I took home was that I am an idiot for not owning any Unleashed albums. As for Throneum and especially Revelation of Doom: I think I'll manage without.

Contact: http://www.paganrecords.com.pl

(article published 20/4/2007)