[another ‘older’ recording which this review will deal with, so I’ll keep it short; yet this material is worth being promoted anyway]
Hailing from Brazilian soil, Thy Rites is a solo-outfit by Antonio ‘Nekrotizer’ (aka Strigoi Warskin aka some more nicknames), whom you might know as well from Seges Findere, Vis Absoluta or Sanctiphagous (which isn’t active anymore). Under the name Thy Rites, Nekrotizer released a handful of full-lengths in the meantime; the review I will concentrate on right now, isn’t his last release as Thy Rites, by the way.
So, Nekrolatreia was written and performed by Antonio (black vomit of hell, death chords, infernal leads and violent beats) during Winter 2020-2021 at the HR Studio (also mix and mastering). It was released on compact-disc, i.e. a jewel-case-CD which includes an eight-page booklet. This comes with the always-stunning cover-artwork by Luciana Nedelea (mistress of morbid graphics!) and layout assistance by Satanath Records chieftain Aleksey Korolyov. It includes the English lyrics. The album gets released via the main label of Aleksey, once more in a partnership with The Ritual Productions from the Netherlands, and Singapore-based Vrykoblast Productions. There is a very recent re-issue too via current label Nekrolust Records in collaboration with some others, by the way.
The album consists of eleven tracks, amongst which a cover by fellow-countrymen Sarcófago. After an ominous, mind-twisting Horror Synth introduction, Thy Rites soon spread their profane sermons of diabolical worship and blasphemous hatred towards the innocent (and hypocrite) sheep called humanoids. It is an old-styled expression of Eighties-schooled Speed / Black / Thrash Metal, with everything that one might adore about that specific scene. The tracks are very energetic in execution, yet still coming with an important dose of melodicism. The compositions are abundantly interspersed with several, often intentionally extended, rageful and sharp-edged fingerspitzen solos and tremolo leads. That rich use of leading parts refers to the Teutonic glory-years. The whole rhythm section supports the lead section with thunder and lightning; I mean, the pushing bass and corrupted rhythm guitars, and the intolerant, sadistic drum ‘n’ percussion division are brought with a mostly fierce dynamism, fortifying the whole experience with such nasty, vile attitude. The better part is fast-paced, and then I mean: fast indeed. It ranges from up-tempo over potently intense to eruptional expeditious, resulting in a solid, vigorous majesty.
Nekrotizer’s voice holds the middle in between baritone and tenor; eh, I mean, this guy seems to vomit sulfuric bile and toxic pus. His rough grunting tone fits well to the archaic material / instrumentation. It is great to notice that the voices do not overpower the whole recording; at the contrary, there is even some modesty within, or behind, the mix. Which brings me to the sound-quality easily, which is, without doubt, perfect: well-balanced yet at the same time coming with a modest rawness.
What if Possessed and Venom had some divine hybrid-child; or what when Sarcófago joined forces with Impaled Nazarene; or imagine earlier Bathory getting covered by Revenge… Do you get the (bloodied) picture? Indeed, it’s within these spheres that Nekrolatreia floats around. It might not be the most renewing material, but who cares about that (I do not, for what it’s worth!), because the result is a fine reflexion of good old times, when spikes’n’leather, or babes’n’booze, did arouse a new, young audience. After four decades, this kind of Sonic Supremacy still works; at least when performed with such conviction and persuasion as in Thy Rites’ case. Amen! Ora pro nobis and thrash the masses!
https://satanath.bandcamp.com/album/sat324-thy-rites-nekrolatreia-2021
https://vrykoblastproduction.bigcartel.com/products?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search=thy+rites
https://www.fenriznl.com/product/thy-rites-cd-nekrolatreia/
https://thyrites666.bandcamp.com/album/nekrolatreia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psBaEOFyrFs
https://nekrolustrecords.bandcamp.com/album/nekro-030-thy-rites-the-beast-of-prey
https://nedelealuciana753.wixsite.com/luciana-nedelea-art