It’s been 7 years since super group Hail of Bullets called it quits after a solid run of three war mongering albums of trundling death metal. But fear not, Germany’s Scalpture is here to revive the ghosts of the past with their second effort of World War One themed death metal.

That should be enough to go on, especially is you are familiar with Hail of Bullets and of course, Asphyx. These guys have the same paint peeling, skin searing guitar tone, some Martin Van Drunen ish vocals, and a superb delivery of European Death metal with equal part lumbering, trundling assaults and blasting salvos.

Littered with soundbites from the classic World War I movie,  All Quiet on the Western Front,  Eisenzeit (‘Iron Age’), the 37 minute run time is a perfect death metal length. The album gets betters as it goes on as well. Not that openers like ” …Ebbs into Stalemate” or ” Und Ehre ist’s”  are chopped liver but at around the Bolt Thrower ish churn of  “Hinterlandsymphonie”, the album really picks up steam with some strong song writing and some truly steam rolling moments.

From the steady gallop and rumble of the title track to scathing “Hell is a Field in France”, standout “Yperite”, pummeling “Of Daredevils and Doughboys”, to the more somber closer “All Quiet of the Western Front”, Eisenzeit hits all the right notes for war themed death metal. And if you want a little more, there’s a bonus hidden track , a live rendition of “No Rest, No Sleep, No Peace”,  from the band debut album, Panzerdoktrin. So go check this album out from the always reliable FDA records.

[Visit the band's website]

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