DESCRIPTION:
Band: Warbringer
Album: War Without End
Country Of Origin: United States of America
Release Date: February 5th, 2008
Label: Century Media Records

Playlist:

1. Total War 00:00
2. Systematic Genocide 04:30
3. Dread Command 08:19
4. Hell on Earth 11:11
5. At the Crack of Doom 14:28
6. Beneath the Waves 18:08
7. Instruments of Torture 21:57
8. Shoot to Kill 25:33
9. Born of the Ruins 28:46
10. Combat Shock 32:32
11. A Dead Current (Epicus Maximus) 36:24

Total Length: 39:40

Despite it's constant bashing by supposed "thrash elitists" (who in many cases ashamedly have soft-spots for terrible, terrible bands along the lines of The Haunted, Lamb Of God, Lazarus A.D, Evile, Machine Head etc, among other atrocities incorrectly labeled new school thrash) Warbringer's debut album War Without End is a very solid release from this new school band. When I bought this album and first began listening I was immediately taken in.

The riffs, some say the riffs and leads are copied and reused but I challenge these haters to find and compare riffs with these other elusive bands that are never named but are constantly referred to. In actuality the riffs are pretty simplistic, but this dosen't mean they are copied/melodic/groove orientated and/or shitty wannabee thrash riffing ala aforementioned bands, they are heavy, angry and in your face. The leads at times tend to lean towards using scales but not as much as you may be led to believe by other reviewers. The leads are melodic when they should be and furious the other half of the time. The production arms the guitars very well and gives them a unique, meaty sound, contrary to what many reviewers have stated.

Which brings me to my second point, the production. Bill Metoyer has done an excellent job in bringing out Warbringer's sound. The production is raw but still modern, everything can be heard very well except the drums seem a teensy bit under the mix, but all of Ryan Bates' fills can still be heard, and theres a hell of a lot of them. The drums vary a tonne, but the speed is mostly fast to mid tempo the whole time. The drums keep up well in all of the songs and thank satan that Bates dosen't employ sloppy d-beating constantly like the Evile drummer and Pitiful Reign's drummer.

The bass is apparently inaudible on War Without End, but is actually pretty well heard even without concentrating on it, though there isn't many parts I can notice where the bass does anything extra, it's mainly just following the guitars.

Finally, John Kevill's vocals. While I can understand some people might not like the idea of every song focusing on war and it's effects and zombies and things instead of being molested by your next door neighbour (Machine Head) I can't find any reason why someone couldn't like John Kevill's psychotic screaming. He's a great screamer, and he's nothing like the secretly in the closet type job metalcore vocals employed by so many cookie cutter bands nowadays. Kevill has a very signature sound to his voice and he belts out tonnes of lines that while being kind of generic still a hell lot of ass.

Overall, I say this album deserves a high rating because it's plain and simple good hard fast thrash. Everything from the excellent opener to an uber catchy closing song rules on this high quality album.

- suckmyassitsmells88, June 10th, 2009

http://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Warbringer/War_Without_End/181432/suckmyassitsmells88

DISCLAIMER: All right reserved to their respective owners. I don't own this. I don't get money or any kind of benefits from this.