Dekapitator The Storm Before the Calm

It only took a decade but thrash metallers Dekapitator have finally managed to scrounge together a second full-length. The follow-up to 1999’s We Will Destroy… You Will Obey, The Storm Before The Calm continues the band’s commitment to "real” metal via galloping drum beats, more chugging than at a frat party and vocal wails that lean closer to tormenting than tormented. It’s a mighty call-to-arms for all Bay Area thrash fiends despite an obvious lack, or deterioration, of technical prowess after years of inactivity. A slightly amateurish approach by the band results in a sound that pulls heavily from (read: is pretty much identical to) Pleasure To Kill-era Kreator: sloppy but slammin’. Offsetting the blind rage, some low-end reminiscent of Metallica’s Master Of Puppets makes for headbangin’ fun. While the performances leave something to be desired, hey, so did Venom’s, and Black Metal is a classic. The enthusiasm Dekapitator put forth on The Storm Before The Calm makes this return to thrash an inspiring one. (Relapse)

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