Band:	The Reckoning
Album:	Counterblast
Style:	Death metal
Release date:	June 20, 2008
A review by:	Thryce

01. Intro
02. Downward Discipline
03. March To Your Death
04. Heap Of Wretchedness
05. Hellkind
06. Vermicular
07. Nailed To Iniquity
08. Level Of Containment
09. Bleed Divine
10. Dead Shall Rise [Terrorizer cover]

Generally speaking I'm not really the type of guy who, unless completely necessary, overuses certain big words like "masterpiece" all the time. And I won't say the album at hand is a masterpiece, but we're coming pretty close. What we are dealing with here, ladies and gents, is certainly the cream of the cream (crème de la crème) when it comes to Belgian death metal releases of 2008, to say the very least. Indeed, "Counterblast", the newest album of The Reckoning is a mighty punch in the face when it comes to top-notch characteristic death metal - you can take my word on it.

This Belgian threesome (seriously, how is it possible to make such loud and heavy music with only three people?) aren't exactly newcomers to the scene. The band started out as an underground melodic black metal band in 1993 under the moniker Infernal Legion, and took a fresh start at the beginning of 2006, meanwhile with a new name, a well-received "debut" album and a solid live reputation playing support shows for Morbid Angel, Vital Remains, Decapitated and Aborted (to name only a few) on their curriculum vitae. "Counterblast" is the band's latest achievement which will without hesitation give you a new reason to damage your ears with pleasure.
Indeed, this is exactly the kind of solid death metal one should nowadays be craving for, since as a matter of fact The Reckoning really have it all to be in one's good death metal book: tempo, rage and aggression; ponderous drumming with (for a change) appropriate blast beats; killer riffs and solos; many rhythmic breakdowns; a-typical yet harsh death metal vocal work; malevolent lyrics; a quality production (the Wieslawski brothers anyone?) and a boundless dark atmosphere with sometimes even a slim filthy black aftertaste. After one crushing half hour this powerful release abruptly ends in beauty with one last kick in the nuts: a finger-licking good cover of Terrorizer's "Dead Shall Rise".
Really, listening to "Counterblast" is like deliberately running at feel speed into a massive wall of death metal.

So perhaps The Reckoning aren't re-defining the principles of death metal. But then again no one was demanding them to; moreover the band already adopted a contemporary and intense approach to make their own. And perhaps "Counterblast" is no masterpiece either but it sure is a masterly showpiece of prevailing death metal. In short, it's nice to discover a distinguishing album once in a while that is like a breath of fresh air in the overpopulated world of death metal. I'm telling you, this is one to remember when you're making up your little "favorite albums of the year"-lists. I kid you not when I state that missing out on this one means missing out on one of the better (if not one of the best) death metal albums of the year... can you live with that thought?