HÖWLER
“Descendants Of Evil”
Album Review by Iron Mathew

10/10

Höwler are a thrash metal band from Costa Rica formed in 2013, releasing four albums to date – ‘Back To Madness’ (2014), ‘Fallen But Not Forgotten’ (2018), ‘No More Circus!’ (2020), and ‘Descendants Of Evil’, released in 2022…

…featuring ten songs of all out and crushing thrash metal! Höwler hail from Coast Rica, yet have a sound that is a meld of American thrash legends Testament, Flotsam And Jetsam, and Death Angel – which certainly ain’t a bad thing! The bands fourth album is an instant like, with head bang ability and intensity levels extremely high – ‘The New World Disorder’ setting the album on a trajectory more vertical than a rocket launched into space! The pace is incredible, the intensity overwhelming, and the head bang ability off the fucking scale! Höwler’s fourth long player is off to a terrific start…

…a start that simply gets more terrific, as the album moves quickly forward with the blistering ‘Panzer 666’. And a fast paced, thundering avalanche of bustling thrash metal – the kind of thrash that bridges the styles of Testament and Sepultura…what a blend: the best of American and Brazilian thrash all in the one place! Give me more Höwler – give me more. And give me more they do – ‘Last Days’ a Slayer-rific and menacing march of scorching thrash with just a little hint of early Metallica thrown into the mix too. The pace and tempo changes are phenomenal, ‘Last Days’ very heavy and head bang-able to the max. Talk about an album getting better and better! ‘Descendants Of Evil’ offering an opening triple salvo of the highest order. The three minute instrumental ‘Super Nova’ is atmospheric, epic, and haunting all at the same time, along with a tension fuelled vibe that keeps you on the edge of your seat, gripped by anticipation that at any moment ‘Super Nova’ will explode furiously into life.

Sadly it didn’t – but by crikey ‘Anthem To The Warfare’ does! And just like warfare, ‘Anthem To The Warfare’ is an explosive blend of high velocity thrash, heavy stomping and devastating riffs. Höwler are showing prowess and proficiency in abundance to deliver a crushing mix of thrash metal styles, romping round the genre with abandon like they own the fucking place! And for these forty four minutes, they definitely do. Blistering pace and total heaviness continues to light up ‘Descendants Of Evil’, this time in the mighty shape of ‘Cycle Of Violence’ – which after a red hot intro adopts a menacing foot stomp that’ll make mincemeat of any metaller foolish enough to stand in the way. ‘Cause just like a tornado, the band will decimate anything in its path – ‘Immortality’ the next force of nature to breeze past with a devastating desire to crush and conquer! And the fastest song heard so far too – the pace is red hot, ‘Immortality’ travelling at lightning speed, crumbling walls and cracking pavements as it thunders on by.

With no break for a breather, Höwler storm on with the high velocity ‘Inhuman Race’ – setting new land speed records as it gets underway! The phenomenal pace is outstanding, the band hurtling forth with total aplomb, ‘Inhuman Race’ a menacing and sinister sounding slice of terrific thrash metal. ‘Sleeping With The Devil’ maintains the recent upturn in speed, yet hammers home a punk-ish feel not heard before – the band continuing to deliver a myriad of styles. And talking of styles – Höwler cross the border into traditional heavy metal territory for the album closer ‘Live To Party’…and pay a veritable homage to the great bands of the past that shaped metal and rock – many of whom are still performing today! With hints at the famous gallop and “foot on the monitor” feel, ‘Live To Party’ will attract many fans of the British style of heavy metal.

Overall, a thundering avalanche of top notch thrash metal, very heavy, very head bang-able, and very, very enjoyable.

TRACKLIST

The New World Disorder
Panzer 666
Super Nova
Anthem To The Warfare
Cycle Of Violence
Immortality
Inhuman Race
Sleeping With The Devil
Live To Party

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