You have to time travel back to the Iron Age of 1984 to truly dig this slab of rusted metal, released on the Neat label, the company responsible for Venom's grim output, Warfare are another band of merry Brits who indulge in punky, oily metal that would have been considered reasonably evil during its existence. To listen to this record so long after its birth it remains a true black metal mini-masterpiece, despite its grubby production. Drummer and vocalist Evo is pure Cronos in disguise, the Venom guys even turn up for a crusty collaboration on the final assault 'Rose Petals Fall From Her Face', and any fan of Venom will love this record. The guitars of Gunnar bring to mind the early, cavernous rumbles of Bathory, only more of a deathly plod, check out the anthemic punk vomit of 'Total Armageddon', complete with war sirens, the hellish noise of 'Rabid Metal' and clanking 'Dance Of The Dead'. This is metal played for keeps, the kind of claustrophobic, fire-breathing menace black metal bands have attempted to produce since the early '90s with only Darkthrone and a handful of others succeeding. Of course, Warfare won't be looked upon as innovators of evil, but they actually should, because this is a grim as anything Venom have put out, yet more obscure, the way we like it. Note: The cover of mine is black and white, far more suited to the ominous sound within.
7.5/10
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