Friends of Hell - God Damned You to Hell (2024)

★★

Back when FRIENDS OF HELL came on the scene a few years ago, they released a great record with a brilliant traditional metal sound. With those few years now passed, we knew they’d be cooking up something else, but whether or not it’d be a continuation of that sound was on the fence. Unfortunately for us, this new release came at the cost of vocalist Albert Witchfinder (of Reverend Bizarre fame) and in his place… Hellbutcher from Nifelheim? Interesting choice, to say the least. It’s not even that he’s a bad vocalist, but having to fill Witchfinder’s shoes is a task of monumental proportions. In regards to the album overall, the songs just don’t seem totally there. Some of them are pretty solid, but others just sound completely devoid of inspiration or originality. Part of that might also be the changeover from single guitarist Jondix to two new guitarists (Nikolas Moutafis and Armando da Silva Conceição), but something ain’t stickin’ together with this album. That being said, the solos are slick, melodic, and sinister, but with no awesome riffs to back them, who cares? The lyrics are also pretty goofy, making what’s supposed to be this sickening Satanic-themed doom album into a circus act. I’m disappointed and quite frankly, I don’t think I’ll be the only one to say so.

FAVORITE TRACKS: “Bringer of Evil,” “Let the Devil Take You,” “Cross Inverter”

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Originally published in April '24 (Issue No. 3)