German thrashers Witchburner are active for two decades in mean time, yet still they haven’t gone soft or surrendering. After a couple of line-up changes (new vocalist + new lead guitarist) and after signing to a new label (High Roller), the band returns with full length number seven, Bloodthirsty Eyes. The new stuff lasts for about thirty six minutes.
Bloodthirsty Eyes as a matter of fact is not that different from the past. The album contains the trademarks from the past, which brings me to both a positive and a negative statement. …With a focus on the positive side rather than the ‘wrong’ one…
The negativity has to do with the complete lack of originality. Bloodthirsty Eyes has been done before a thousand times; Sodom, Destruction and Kreator, as well as Aura Noir, Pestilence, Possessed, Antichrist, Sadus or Death Angel; Witchburner for sure are not the most renewing or original act on Mater Terra. More than once you can just continue singing or banging your head without even having heard a track fully. It might seem like this band just copies their own past in combination with elements shamelessly stolen from others, just like that… Subsidiary shame…
The positive elements, nevertheless, are much more decisive. First of all you have the average quality of the songs. Despite the lack of originality, they are way beyond the average quality. This goes for the sound (modern production), the performance (experienced members) and the songs an sich (it’s never that idiot to follow the footsteps of the heroes, is it?!). Secondly one cannot ignore the impressing history of this band. I know not everyone will agree, but one cannot ignore the influential existence of these German assholes, I think. Originality my ass! Finally I have to mention this band’s joy to play Thrash the way Thrash must sound like. It’s uncompromising, uncomplicated and unrelenting, and I do like it. If you do too, you will for sure appreciate this material; in case you’re some narrow-minded and hollow-headed nitwit: FOAD!