Author: Rok Klemše
Artist: Keller
Released: 2008
Runtime: 16:51
Rating: 4.5/5
Thrashers Keller have only been active for a little over a year, and they’re already blasting out of the speakers from the cellars of the Primorska coast! In their pretty short existence they can already brag about the successful Bringing Out the Evil tour, on which they spread fear, venomous thrash metal and (self-)destruction of kidneys and livers all over Slovenia, and last but not least, they’ve dropped their first demo, titled Awake the Forgotten.
In this era of thrash metal’s renewed popularity and fresh resurgence, most bands are turning to the Bay Area sound of thrash, inspired by acts like Metallica, Testament, Forbidden, Heathen, and also Megadeth and Slayer from Los Angeles. Most of the old guard are still kicking at full power, even though some of them are ripe for rocking in a chair by the fireplace and knitting, and they’ve inspired a small sea of new crossover outfits like Toxic Holocaust, Bonded By Blood, Warbringer and others. Somewhat in the background, and unjustly so, stays German, or Teutonic, thrash, whose flag is still being waved by the holy trinity of Kreator, Sodom and Destruction… And yes, by Keller too! Keller are even faster, even more aggressive and even more brutal than their brothers from the Bay, which they prove already with the spine-chilling creaking intro that smacks us straight on the crown of the head and shoves us down the stairs into a dark cellar where Sentenced to Death is waiting. “Here in Heeeeell!” Keller are uncompromisingly heavy from the very first moments of the demo and fast, the rhythm section is German-precise, Vasko on bass and Winko on drums fire like an entire World War II army, while Eti and Peter bombard with the precision of artillery, with fantastic riffs. With Summon the Mortals, Keller crash in at the supersonic speed of a V2 rocket just about to land in the middle of terror-stricken London, and vocalist Martin sounds like a raw, raging general barking orders without a shred of sanity left. “Only Death is the Right Solutioooon!” If you think Keller will let you catch your breath, you’re badly mistaken, because the mid-tempo opening of Death Command is only the calm before the storm that follows and leads to a phenomenal blitzkrieg chorus. “Killing for no Reaaaason!” The war frenzy wraps up with Holy Slaugter, with a chilling opening interplay of both guitars, bass and drums that effectively builds a proper hellish atmosphere, which soon slams us into the depths of hell at fiery speed. “Holy Slaughter, Unholy Deaath!”
The only downside of the Awake the Forgotten demo is that it’s over after a good sixteen minutes. Still, those sixteen minutes introduce one of the best thrash metal bands in the country, and I’m sure the cellars of Primorska are still full of thrash horrors waiting around the corner…
Lineup
Martin Lukac – vocals
Etien Šavli – guitar
Peter Kastrin – guitar
Vasja Doplihar – bass
Matjaž Winkler – drums
Production
Keller
Tracklist
1. Sentenced to Death
2. Summon the Mortals
3. Death Command
4. Holy Slaughter
