THE TROOPS OF DOOM - The Rise of Heresy EP review

Release date October 9, 2020 (Blood Blast Distribution)

Missing the sound of prime Sepultura (ie. pre-Chaos AD)? Look no further than The Rise of Heresy, the debut EP from The Troops Of Doom for your next dose of old school, pummeling death metal. Furthering the comparisons to the Brazilian legends (beyond the band name and sound) is the inclusion of two Sep covers ("Bestial Devastation" and "Troops of Doom"). Reject thoughts of musical appropriation though as The Troops Of Doom includes original Sepultura member Jairo "Tormentor" Guedz within its ranks, part of the writing team that brought you the Bestial Devastation, Morbid Visions and Schizophrenia albums.

"Whispering Dead Words" opens things here with an orchestrated intro before attacking the kidneys with a rhythmic fury straight out of the Beneath The Remains playbook. A friggin' amazing way to open the EP to be sure. The pistons popping bass/guitar barrage continues with second track "Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea", sure to make ol' school necks snap back-and-forth in acquiescence. "The Confessional" is up next, relying on a tried-and-true chugging riff, interjecting speedy machine gun riffage every once in a while to keep the listener on their toes. The title track follows, representing the fourth and final original track offered here, going tribal once again in its ferocity and vicious intent. The two covers are tagged on at the end making this a significantly weighty six track, twenty-two minute EP.

Highly recommended! (8)