originally written by Jim Brandon
We last heard from the Spearhead camp back in 2007 when they unharnessed a destructive force entitled Decrowning The Irenarch, and it’s about damn time the revamped lineup released some fresh new material. And let me tell ya’, son, it’s a ripping return at that. On Theomachia, the current four-piece slaughter squad stakes their claim as one of the UK’s most menacing death metal bands, and they haven’t missed a single step in the four years since their sophomore release knocked many a dick into the dirt while leaving an impression that was difficult to dismiss.
Theomachia is an exhibition in thrash-tinged death metal that exploits the power of the riff over mindless blasting, and although there certainly is a hell of lot of barbaric velocity to absorb, tracks like “The Lie Of Progression” display a purpose to their pounding. It’s the updated album Hacavitz tried to make with Katun, and the swansong Of Lucifer And Lightning should have been. You can hear deep inspiration from the likes of Morbid Angel, Malevolent Creation, and especially Angelcorpse, but their individuality cuts through the Americanized haze with riff-heavy songs filled with sweet time changes and a nice variety of tempos. Tunes such as the wicked “Perdition Tide” and “Prey To The Conqueror” are all power, all the time, but they also explore slower, more deliberate speeds and tight start-stops during rampaging tracks like “Polemos Pater Panton”, “To Slake The Thirst Of Ages” and “Kshatriya” with cunning ease. Vocalist Barghest is a dead ringer for Pete Helmkamp as far as his delivery goes, coming from the school of thought that each and every word must be delivered with the utmost force, and he lays waste on “Autocrator” and “Herald The Lightning” with his forceful manner. Rhythm guitarist Invictus has got one hell of a picking hand, and seems to be able to slip from one tense riff to the next with effortless dexterity, showcased in concluding instrumental “Aftermath” with echoing riffs and wispy-smooth nuances abound.
There are many positives to proclaim about Theomachia, and it’s hard to nitpick about its quality since it’s solid as a rock, and undeniably wise in its assembly. For instance, bridging the two halves of the album is “Praesagium”, a distant and ambient break in the action gives a well-earned respite from the majority of the chaos. But complete chaos it is not, for this is a very smartly arranged and executed album filled with the utmost confidence and bull-balled gravitas. Pure in form, and downright murderous in intent, the commandos in Spearhead have delivered a knockout punch of a death metal album, and lengthy descriptions are quite unnecessary. Proceed with caution, and prepare for the worst, because this bitch is taking your nuts with it and laughing all the way to the fucking meat grinder.
