Album Review: Azaab – Summoning the Cataclysm (Maxima Music Pro/Satanath Records)

Halling from Islamabad, Pakistan, Azaab presents their debut album, Summoning the Cataclysm. Due out on the 15th of April 2022 on digital and CD formats (co-released by Satanath Records and Maxima Music Pro).

With a hefty dollop of the old-school sound, death metal band Azaab bring the brutalising fire with this debut album. Where they straddle the line between technical, melo-death, old-school and modern savagery.

Put it this way… if you love death metal intensity, this album has exactly what you need. It just so happens to come with a bit more flair as encapsulated by the cinematic intro of Pandemonium Twilight.

Hold on though, as with Carbon Plague and A Hollow Pact, Azaab show just how meaty they can get. Delivering powerhouse hits of scathing riffs, crushing drumbeats and guttural growls. These tracks are as eye-watering as they sound. Although, it’s not like Azaab suddenly take a more chilled out approach with the technical slathering that is Preachers of Hate. Or the mean mugging that When Worlds Collide dishes out. Or the explosive blast of ferocity that drowns the senses on The Infernal Citadel.

How about Trophies of Flesh and B.L.O.O.D.B.O.R.N? A brief touch of melody at the start of the former can’t hide what most will expect at this stage of the album. An expectation that Azaab will continue to slash and crush their way through the brain matter, which they achieve with ease again here.

Slapped in between those two is a feral cover of death metal’s finest, Decapitated and their song, The Empty Throne. A cool cover that doesn’t mess around at all.

Azaab – Summoning the Cataclysm Full Track Listing:

1. Pandemonium Twilight
2. Carbon Plague
3. A Hollow Pact
4. Preachers of Hate
5. When Worlds Collide
6. The Infernal Citadel
7. Trophies of Flesh
8. The Empty Throne (Decapitated cover)
9. B.L.O.O.D.B.O.R.N

Links

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