Vader: Dark Age (2017)

Sticking with bands from Poland, here we have Vader, who is one of the most famous Polish metal bands.  Likely just second to Behemoth at this point and that is due more to Behemoth's recent opening slot on Slipknot's Knotfest tour.  But enough about Behemoth, let's talking about Vader.

To begin with, it is a little difficult to think of too much to say about Vader that has not been said thousands of times before.  Vader is one of the most consistently excellent bands in metal.  They have never put out a bad song, much less a bad album.  And they remain steadfastly committed to the sound that they developed way back in the late 1980's.  This album is their most recent release and it sounds so much like their first album.  But there is a reason for that.

So why is that?  Well, because Dark Age is essentially a re-recording of the band's first album The Ultimate Incantation.  Even the album artwork is the same.  I am not sure why the band bothered to change the album title, except maybe to make it seem like a brand new album.  Usually I do not care much for this kind of cash grab, except it is not like this particular band is mainstream enough to take much advantage of a cash grab, so this seems kind of non-sensical.  The songs were also re-recorded at completely different points in time, so again, this is just kind of bizarre.

Now, I am not complaining that much about this.  I do not own Vader's first album, so this is a good way to hear all of the songs.  And quite frankly, the album is fucking awesome.  It is clear that Vader's foundation was in thrash metal branching out into death metal.  The riffs are punishingly heavy and intense.  The songs are short, but immensely powerful.  And Piotr's vocals are top-notch growls.  There is a reason Vader is as renowned as they are in underground circles.

So, while this is kind of a pointless release, it comes across well enough that it does not really matter.  Vader rules and that is all anyone really needs to know.