ARMORED ASSAULT — Blood Queen (review)

ARMORED ASSAULT — Blood Queen album cover Album · 2021 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
"Blood Queen" is the debut full-length studio album by US, Illinois based thrash metal act Armored Assault. The album was independently released in March 2021. Armored Assault formed in 2004 and released a couple of demos and EP before releasing "Blood Queen". They were formerly known under The RazorBlade Smile monicker.

Listening to "Blood Queen" it´s obvious that these guys have been around since 2004, because Armored Assault are a very well playing band. The musicianship is on a high level on all posts. Sharp precision riffing, convincing raw vocals, and a poowerful playing rhythm section. Drummer Mark Suttner is one of those great drummers who is technically skilled and deliver precision playing but at the same time possesses an organic driving groove, and his playing is extremely important for the overall quality of the music on "Blood Queen".

Stylistically the material on the 7 track, 33:03 minutes long album is aggressive thrash metal with metalcore leanings. Especially the vocals often belong in the raw screaming hardcore influenced metalcore camp, but the vocals are actually relatively diverse and the album also feautures semi-growling vocals, raw thrash metal style vocals, and a couple of clean vocal parts. The tracks are predominantly fast-paced and energetic with fast syncopated thrashy riffs and beats and a high aggression level. "Blood Queen" is an interesting release because of the combination of elements from thrash metal, melodic death metal, and metalcore, and sometimes it´s a strength but other times it doesn´t work as well as intended. I could for example have done without the clean vocals, which I don´t find that convincing.

"Blood Queen" is well produced, featuring a powerful, raw, and detailed sound production, which suits the material well. So upon conclusion "Blood Queen" is a decent quality debut album by Armored Assault. It´s an album for those who enjoy an eclectic and energetic type of thrash metal with metalcore elements, and there is enough promise here for me to give a recommendation to fans of that style. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.
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