Whether the name Die Hard reminds you of the Venom song or
the killer movie, you probably already have some pretty high expectations for
the band, and let me you, this band meets those expectations. Venom would be the more appropriate comparison, as Die Hard plays
what a thrashier version of Venom would sound like. In fact, if Venom had got
their start in 1984 or even a little bit later, I’d have to imagine this is the
sound they’d have taken on. The vocals are slightly gruffer and less
understandable than Cronos, but also bear many similarities to bands like At
War, who also come from the school of Venom. Even most of the riffs are quite
similar to that old-school speed/thrash style.
Interestingly, however, the band does manage to
differentiate themselves quite a bit from Venom. Guitar solos are much more
frequent and played with a considerable level of skill. In addition, Die Hard
slows things down every once in a while. Utilizing huge power chord riffs with
pounding double bass underneath, the band manages to sound even heavier playing
at half-speed than they are in their faster state. At times, the band goes all
out, totally forgetting that nobody played this fast back in 1982. The majority
of “Antichrist” is a testament to the fact that this band can thrash just as
hard as anyone when they want to. In addition, one track I just have to mention for having the most killer riff on the album is the closer, “Robe and Crown”. About half way through, there is a riff that wouldn't be out of place on a Swedish death metal record, but then the band beefs it up into power chords (making it eternally heavier). The band continues with the theme of that riff before jumping into another verse and eventually ending the song with a killer solo. All I can say is that is truly a skull-fracturing riff. Thematically, these guys are pure evil. If the
album cover and song titles don’t give it away (“Satanic Uprise”, “Sanctify The
Morbid”), Die Hard loves to deal with Satan and his comrades.
“Conjure The Legions” is a perfect example of how simplicity
can really make for something quite interesting. Don’t get me wrong, these
musicians are very talented, but there’s something about that sound that only
Venom and Motorhead could really play back in the early 80’s that is really
killer. Die Hard manages to take a few more recent influences and fuse them
with this sound to create a modern, yet old-school record. The strange thing is
that it’s difficult to even classify this band. They’re thrash, there’s no
doubt about it, but they sometimes have the brutality of death/thrash bands
(Solstice, Demolition Hammer), while at other times managing to sound like a
black thrash band (Aura Noir, Witchtrap). Ultimately however, if you are a fan
of Venom or At War, this is going to be the record for you.
Be sure to check out and like Die Hard on Facebook!
Highlights
"Conjure The Legions"
"Antichrist"
"Robe And Crown"
Final Rating
4.25/5 or 85%.
Written by Scott