LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR — The Ultimate Destroyer (review)

LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR — The Ultimate Destroyer album cover Album · 2006 · Sludge Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"The Ultimate Destroyer" is the 2nd full-length studio album by US, Chicago based metal act Lair of the Minotaur. The album was released through Southern Lord Recordings in March 2006. It´s the successor to "Carnage" from 2004, but the two full-length studio albums were bridged by the "Cannibal Massacre" EP from 2005. The title track from the EP also appears on "The Ultimate Destroyer". The three-piece lineup of vocalist/guitarist Steven Rathbone, drummer Larry Herweg (Tusk, Pelican), and bassist Donald James Barraca (7000 Dying Rats, who recorded the debut album, is intact on "The Ultimate Destroyer".

Stylistically the tracks on the album continue the raw, noisy, and filthy thrash/doom/sludge metal style of "Carnage (2004)". Lair of the Minotaur are a well playing band and they clearly know what they want and how to achieve it. Their performances are skillful and there is great conviction and passion behind the delivery. The material are well written too, although a few more hooks/catchy moments wouldn´t have hurt. To my ears the highlight of the album is the heavy album closer "The Hydra Coils Upon This Wicked Mountain", where Lair of the Minotaur lift the foot off the pedal, and slow things down a bit, but the more energetic and raw tracks generally work well too. It´s all packed in a raw and powerful sounding production, which suits the material well.

So "The Ultimate Destroyer" is a quality sophomore album release by Lair of the Minotaur, but the surprise of the band´s raw sound and the combination of stylistic elements aren´t as surprising as they were on "Carnage (2004)", and while the lack of surprise shouldn´t mean anything when rating the release, I would be lying if I said it didn´t. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
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