Byfrost – Of Death (2011) [AFM] // Grade: A

Oh my fucking god. Ahhhhhhhh. Pardon my enthusiasm, let me turn this album off because I can’t even concentrate long enough to write this review. Byfrost’s second full-length, Of Death kicks the fucking shit out of just about other thrash album of 2011. Remember back when you were a whipper snapper and you got your first intro to the Swedish tech death craze of the early 90′s? Think about At the Gates but blackened and with a much better production budget (and blast beats, oh god the blast beats!)

Rip open the top and chug down “May The Dead Rise”. This is what Immortal would sound like if they weren’t such huge fucking pussies. Gah! Chop their heads off. “Eye For An Eye” just hammers away for over 5 minutes. The blast beats arise out of the chasm and demons are let loose, ripping your soul to shreds as they dine on your finger tips. If you haven’t caught wind of how crisp and icy this album is by now, you’re an idiot. This shit is sharp. The band produced Of Death themselves with help from Enslaved’s producer, Herbrand Larsen. Usually high-production equals douchey show-boaters. Remember, I said this wasn’t Immortal. Byfrost is about as gnarly as you can get when it comes to blackened thrash. Their shit-kicking, FUCK YOU, attitude continues with “Buried Alive” where we’re bent over on madame guillotine herself and await execution.

The title track “Of Death” starts with an offset riff and rhythm section before the madness-inducing vocals of HeavyHarms take hold. This track is chopped up and unpredictable. Of Death continues with more thrash-shit-show-clusterfuck tracks like “Full Force Rage” and “Shadow Of Fear”. For some of that classic thrash flare, kick on “Sorgh” and lace up your boots during this slow, instrumental break before “All Gods Are Gone” explodes. This track is fucking brutal! A long howl awakens an army of guitar-clad zombie warriors. The tombs of the dead awaken and battle axes are wielded as Byfrost usurps control over the blackened thrash armies of Earth. Seriously, what the hell is in the drinking water of Bergen? I dunno but they need to bottle it and sell that shit to these other toy bands! Do not miss this album! Of Death delivers.

- Prolly