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Blog Categories Review Dethonator - Race Against The Sun - Reviewed By Metal Crypt!

Dethonator - Race Against The Sun - Reviewed By Metal Crypt! Sunday February 27 2022, 2:45 PM

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Dethonator - Race Against The Sun - Reviewed By Metal Crypt ! check it out here at these links:

Part 1 - http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/review.php?revid=13445
Part 2 - http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/review.php?revid=13447

Dethonator is a band from the U.K. with a name that makes me think thrash metal, but they play music of a traditional bent. I received both this album, Race Against the Sun, Part One and the follow-up, Race Against the Sun, Part Two in one promo package and, apparently, they were initially intended to make up a double album, a plan that was ultimately changed to two single albums released a year apart. Part One features several stand-alone tracks where the band sings about dark and dangerous topics while playing driving, pummeling metal full of clear vocals and catchy choruses, sweet guitar harmonies and galloping rhythms. Standout songs include the opener "When Lucifer Fell", "Nightmare City" and the superb "Pyroclastic" where all Dethonator’s strengths come together in rousing, raucous fashion. This last song is about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius and subsequent destruction of Pompeii, and I think the use of death vocals to describe the actual eruption itself is an inspired bit of songcraft. The band cites Priest and Maiden as influences, and that can be heard, but if you also dig less mainstream acts like Jag Panzer, Pharaoh and Sough Feg, then Race Against the Sun, Part One may well be right up your alley.

I received Dethonator’s Race Against the Sun, Part Two at the same time as Part One and, while I like Part One just fine, Part Two is my favorite of the pair. Musically, both albums contain excellent heavy metal with clear, strong vocals, huge choruses, a pounding rhythm section, and sweet guitar work. Unlike its predecessor, Race Against the Sun, Part Two is a concept album featuring a dramatic retelling of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, one of my all-time favorite horror books. Because of this, I immediately connected with the album. Dethonator have stayed true to Stoker’s original story line and set it to great riffs and powerful choruses and even added gothic vocal lines and musical elements to songs like "Transylvanian Ways" and especially "Blood of My Blood". I feel as though the band has captured the spirit of the story so well, I had no trouble at all visualizing the scene as each song rolled by. As with Race Against the Sun, Part One, this album should appeal to fans of crunchy yet melodic traditional heavy metal with the added bonus of a gripping and chilling gothic horror story worthy of rapt attention. - Metal Crypt

Release Date: November 27, 2020

FFO: Iron Maiden, Metallica, Grand Magus

Location: London, England

Originally forged in the East Midlands of England and now established in London, Dethonator have developed their own style and sound over almost two decades.

If Judas Priest define Heavy Metal, then Dethonator are Damascus Steel; metal forged true with layers of influence drawn from the varied styles explored by their peers and forebears.

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