When listening to this band’s debut album, one might think that they are heavily inspired by the Old School in all its glory. But actually, Atomic Aggressor are part of that legendary Old School, for this Chilean band was active as from the end of the eighties. They had two demos back then, Bloody Ceremonial in 1989 and Resurrection in 1991, but then they broke up. However, in 2007, original members Alejandro Diaz and Enrique Zúñiga reformed the band in order to play some live gigs, and soon after they released a split with another ‘cult’ act from Chile that I truly adore, i.e. Death Yell.
Atomic Aggressor now come up with their first full length album, Sights Of Suffering, which lasts for fifty three minutes. And I did mention it in my introduction, but this stuff is Old Skool, baby! Imagine a mixture of Cenotaph, Incantation, Morbid Angel and Teutonic nastiness à la Kreator or Sodom, or even Krisiun and Spiritual Healing-era Death from time to time, as well as the likes of Pentagram, Bloody Cross or Death Yell, to have a clue. It’s extremely guitar-driven, this material, with grandiose solos (not of the pathetic look how cool I can handle my instrument-kind, yet truly convinced / convincing in performance and attitude); yet the vocals and rhythm section are of undeniable importance as well, evidently.
You see, it does not always have to be a ‘lengthy’ review to show a band’s strength. This is essential (Death / Thrash) Metal to the bone, lacking of originality, yet from the heart! It’s that simple…