BELTFED WEAPON
“RAINING PLAGUE” EP
Album Review By Chris Palmer
8/10
Beltfed Weapon is a Speed/Thrash/Death Metal band from Seattle, USA. Founded in 1999 by Frank Hetzel [Guitar/Songwriter], the band has released three EP’s during its lifetime: “Beltfed Weapon” [2001], “Peacekeeper” [2009], and “Raining Plague” [2015].
The latter EP arrived after Frank had put the band on hiatus in 2009 due to various lineup changes. He returned armed with new songs in 2014 and relaunched Beltfed Weapon by reaching out to professional friends and peers from within the industry. A classic case of “if you don’t ask, you don’t get” resulted in the aforementioned six-track EP, which dropped through my letterbox recently.
Released during the summer of 2015, “Raining Plague” features the following musicians together with Frank Hetzel during the recording process: Steve DiGiorgio (Testament, Death, Sadus) [Bass]; Fredrik Vidigs (Marduk) [Drums]; Dean Sternberg (Where Evil Follows, Ashes Of Ares, ex-Into Eternity touring singer) [Vocals]; and Andy Beech [Lead Guitar]. Duo Jeff Loomis (Arch Enemy, Nevermore, Sanctuary) and Matt Wicklund (Ghost Ship, Ocatvius, God Forbid, Warrel Dane, HIMSA) also made guest appearances during the recording of the EP.
The EP itself runs for 23 minutes, 24 seconds and consists of six tracks. ”Sacred Reprisal” is a short instrumental opener which launches you into the heavy “Mind Rape”. Containing heavy, fast-paced riffs, “Mind Rape” will have you headbanging right off the bat. With a combination of soaring, melodic vocals as well as the more aggressive style, this track is an invigorating listen that’ll get the heart racing. No respite is allowed as Beltfed Weapon continue the momentum with the excellent “Darkness Falls”, with an avalanche of powerful riffs, pummelling drums, and impressive bass lines. Containing bouts of non-stop shredding guitars, this number is a delightful listen.
“Black Matter Clarity” reaches for the throat with more heavy riffs and an aggressive twin vocal attack. Playing at an uncompromising pace, Beltfed Weapon lead you straight into the punishing “Spread Your Wings”, which pounds away at your skull with unrelenting chugging riffs. This fine EP finishes with the excellent title track, “Raining Plague”, which will have you headbanging to the pounding riffage.
This EP is 23+ minutes of excellent Speed/Thrash/Death Metal. The music on disc is full of heavy goodness which is played at an impressive speed. The guitar-play and shredding solos throughout are well worthy of the price alone and are a joy to the ears. My only criticism is that the EP is not enough. I’m left wanting more! After all is said and done, I’ll be keeping a close eye on Frank Hetzel and his Beltfed Weapon and hope a follow-up release arrives soon!
TRACKLIST:
Sacred Reprisal
Mind Rape
Darkness Falls
Black Matter Clarity
Spread Your Wings
Raining Plague
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