Album Title: Twisted Prayers
Genre/ Subgenre: Death Metal
Label: Relapse Records
Release Date: June 5, 2018
Twisted Prayers is the second full length album from American death metal act Gruesome and continues the Death worship that the band so very expertly specializes in. This time around the sound clearly draws its inspiration from Death's masterful album Spiritual Healing, which saw the band expanding their sound with more melodic passages and more mature and thought provoking lyrics.
As a result, this album too sees Gruesome mature and explore a thrashier and more melodic sound, with lyrics moving away from the horror love of their earlier work. This leads to an impressive monster that will please anyone who misses the early days of the sub-genre and, of course, those who long for Death styled music. Topping off the Death love is the kick ass and sick cover by Ed Repka who has worked with Gruesome before and, of course, worked on the first couple of Death albums.
The musicianship is stellar as should be any band that dares to walk Death worshiping territory. The hate filled "A Waste of Life" opens with a Chuck Schuldiner-esque riff and goes into a song that is alternately chugging and driving and remains constantly pummeling. "Fate" has another incredible intro that leads into a sound that mixes a thrash and death metal style that is absolutely glorious in its delivery! The battering "Fatal Illusions" attacks the listener from the very first lick and charges right through you, like the chainsaw that it's guitar sound sometimes recalls. The title track is a ferocious beast that shreds and rips through the sound barrier and might just be the best song on this incredible release.
It should also be noted that Gruesome released two cover songs. One is of a Mantas song (the original name for Death) "Legion of Doom" which is released as part of Decibal magazine's Flexi Series in their June 2018 issue. You can listen to that track exclusively HERE. A cover of Possessed's classic "The Exorcist" will be released on the deluxe LP of this album which is available at Relapse.com. Both, covers are fucking killer!
And, killer is THE perfect way to describe Twisted Prayers. Technically amazing and crushing music from beginning to end, this is truly an album for fans who long for this form of Death style music. Gruesome are the fucking masters at bringing it to life in this current era and as such this kick ass album is their gift to us.
4.5 out of 5
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