KRISIUN - AssassiNation

KRISIUN
AssassiNation
Century Media Records
8/10





Krisiun’s roaring sonic wall of death returns once again with “Assassination”, as these Brazilian brutes convey exactly the type of skull-hammering, blood-spilling rhythmic onslaughts and well-honed, slashing and shredding axe-work that have made the band notorious in death metal circles worldwide. One of the most attention-grabbing aspects of the sound of Krisiun is the willingness of the group to take on traditional thrash influences in addition to offering their blindingly rapid death metal cacophony. Often on AssassiNation, the guitar tones are highly similar to Kreator and when the band takes up a wildly thrashing section, the effect is not unlike that of the aforementioned German thrash pioneers. When combining such aggressive sounds with the dark, cavernous death bellow of Alex Camargo, the effect becomes comparatively singular. Respect is due to any band that can create such an extremely individual musical aura and there is no denying the Krisiun has carved out a particular niche for themselves stylistically.

Producer Andy Classen brings out an absolute wickedness in the sound of Krisiun by sticking tightly to pointed guitar tones, tightly compressed drum sounds and embellishing the entire affair with a near-perfect mix. Certainly, production must be considered as a chief factor in the enjoyability of this record, but praise should also be given to the complexity of the group’s attentively defined aural barrages. Highlights include the hyperspeed-squealing, deafening “Suicidal Savagery” as well as the foreboding, unremitting “United In Deception”, where the band utilizes thrashcore breakdowns and blinding riffery to embellish their war minded assault. Well-placed guitar accents and a swirling vortex of highly technical instrumentation cause “Vicious Wrath” to be especially notable, with the track being one of the most superb examples of the level of proficiency the trio have found as musicians. Performance-wise, drummer Max Kolesne can be said to be most impressive, manifesting concentrated, extended bursts of speed with the precision of a laser-guided missile. His strong contributions provide cohesion for the group’s insane technical flurries coupled with a blunt, fastidious force that is wholly unyielding.

Rightfully, this is an album that is not without its down points. At times, the band is a bit repetitive, as during the course of “Natural Genocide.” Maybe this is the trio’s example of a death metal hook, but it gets to be too same-sounding to make a great impact. There are other points during the album where the distinction of their sound gives way to the band’s tendencies toward fleeting pummeling, but these missives are certainly less noteworthy. Other than the highly above-par production quality, you won’t find too many surprises on this album. Consistency is a key factor in the long-term success of any act and Krisiun does deliver that positive trait, but further experimentation would also be welcomed. In ending things with a cover of Motorhead’s “Sweet Revenge” Krisiun pay a bit of homage to an obvious old-school influence. Just as Motorhead set standards for playing speed metal, Krisiun seeks to blaze the same blistering trails. On this track, the group actually settles down for a slow doomy rendition of the cut, delivering the track at a measured grind with the end result being particularly menacing. This is one example of unpredictability that leaves the record on an interesting note, indeed.

Although not perfect, with “AssassiNation” the group remorselessly gets the job accomplished. Without fail, Krisiun deal listeners some of the most aggressive, technical and extreme music to be found, guaranteeing this to be a big hit with the death metal united.


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