Label: Fetzner Death Records/Satanath Records
Genre: Thrash Death Metal
Length: 53:30
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In the Fire are a black/death/thrash metal band (according to Metal Archives) from Philadelphia, USA. Although there's no mention of when the band was formed, their discography shows an impressive progression. After a debut album, Volatile Beings (2019), and a second, The Living Horror Show (2020), they released their third album, Test of the Pendulum Blade. Co-released by Fetzner Death Records and Satanath Records, Test of the Pendulum Blade offers 53 intense minutes featuring 13 tracks, available on digital version and limited CD edition.
Test of the Pendulum Blade is a veritable explosion of intensity. The riffs are razor-sharp, and the pace oscillates between death metal fury and explosive thrash acceleration. The opening track, In the Name of God, immediately plunges you into this sonic violence, with powerful guitars, screaming vocals and captivating changes of pace. On tracks like Blasphemously Blessed and Rest in Power, the band demonstrate their ability to maintain a relentless energy, underpinned by technical solos and frantic percussion. The influence of old-school thrash is also omnipresent, particularly in instrumental passages such as the one at 2:00 on Cemetery Evil, which evokes the heyday of the 80s.
Despite this constant intensity, the album also includes some more nuanced moments that give a better appreciation of the band's instrumental skills. Unsung opens with a bass solo, before giving way to muffled melodies and a more subdued rhythm. Reaching for the Sun, meanwhile, has a heavy metal feel to the introduction, which evolves into a particularly memorable solo. These rhythmic and stylistic variations, though rare, add an extra richness to the album and show that the band know how to step out of their comfort zone to surprise their audience.
My favourites tracks include Blasphemously Blessed, which reaches its climax at 4:06 with a phenomenal vocal scream, while Rest in Power is a surge of energy, buoyed by an impressive solo. I was also struck by Unsung, where the bass takes centre stage. Cemetery Evil is a must-have, with a vocal performance at its peak and instrumental moments worthy of the great thrash eras.
Test of the Pendulum Blade is an album clearly aimed at worshippers of frantic rhythms and uncompromising brutality. Despite a production that could be more polished, the songwritting remain impressive, with constant energy and remarkable instrumental execution. While some tracks stand out for their originality and technicality, others may seem repetitive to those less familiar with the style.
I'll let you discover more about the album on Fetzner Death Records - Website or on the Bandcamp below.