Band:	Artillery
Album:	When Death Comes
Style:	Thrash metal
Release date:	June 15, 2009
A review by:	Jeff

01. When Death Comes
02. Upon My Cross I Crawl
03. 10.000 Devils
04. Rise Above It All
05. Sandbox Philosophy
06. Delusions Of Grandeur
07. Not A Nightmare
08. Damned Religion
09. Uniform
10. The End
11. Refuse To Live - Part II [Japanese bonus]
12. Warhead [Japanese bonus]
13. Chaos Ride [Japanese bonus]

Artillery, the famous Danish Thrash Metal band is finally back with a new original album, ten years after their last release B.A.C.K! Maybe that you don't know the band really well, because after all they never got the popularity of European Thrash bands like Kreator for example but their first three releases Fear Of Tomorrow (1985), Terror Squad (1987) and By Inheritance (1990) are all considered as really good Thrash releases. B.A.C.K was so-so but what about this new one then? Perfect, if you like really melodic Thrash, but if you're looking for angry violent music, then perhaps look elsewhere. I'm quite sure that When Death Comes will open a lot of debates between true fans of classic Bay Area Thrash and other Thrash listeners. All I can say at least, is that this release is good...for its genre...

Melodic as hell! Yes that's all what I can say about When Death Comes which is a real Thrash Metal release but which dangerously flirts with Heavy Metal. Why am I saying "dangerously"? Just because true extreme Thrash Metal fans probably won't say that this release is the best of the year. I doubt too that they will say that it's a bad album because the songs are cool, thrashy as hell and with good melodies but finally a bit soft. When Death Comes is fast, angry, with "terrific" technical guitars solos but the choruses and the voice of Søren Nico Adamsen can sound "too nice" sometime. I liked the album and I like to listen to it but on the other hand I love to listen to violent and naughty Thrash and When Death Comes is not in this category. I'm quite sure actually that fans of Heavy Metal and "melodic" Thrash a la Annihilator or even Testament (with their most commercial songs only) will like the release. After all "When Death Comes" with its frenetic tempo and big riff is cool right? Well OK the chorus is a bit "pop" but the riff is cool! Same with "Delusions Of Grandeur" which is a really nice catchy song but which is quite accessible and commercial too... You see what I mean, all that is not bad, at the opposite, but if you're looking for evilness When Death Comes is just not for you!

As you know now, When Death Comes is not a violent album but more a "pop" Thrash one (like the last Annihilator). But it's good to see that the band is able to do a real come back, a lot better than with B.A.C.K. The guys play perfectly well and Søren Nico Adamsen is still a good singer (but more a Heavy Metal singer than a real Thrasher if you see what I mean). The production is also really good and I like the cover, which is absolutely cliché but perfect in the genre and really cool in the end!

I think that When Death Comes is just a polemical album. No, this is not pure Thrash but this is good nonetheless! The thrasher who is in me wouldn't rate it to the maximum but the heavy metal fan who is in me liked it a lot (and would give a lot more!!!). All in all, this is just a matter of taste but if you like Thrashy Heavy Metal or melodic Thrash (as you want...) this release is just great! The other ones who want true Thrash will still enjoy the release, but yes, they won't say that its perfect! Ho well, let's stop this little battle, When Death Comes is full of good catchy melodies, and will give you a smile. After all this is not so bad!