Among the releases I was looking forward to this year was the new album from the German band Cruel Force. Entitled Haneda, this fourth album was released via the Shadow Kingdom Records label in digital, vinyl, CD, and cassette formats (the works: enough to make collectors happy). Cruel Force is a band that needs no introduction these days. This German force has established itself as a major band in the German and European extreme metal scene thanks to albums like The Rise of Satanic Might, released in 2010, and Dawn of the Axe, released in 2023.
Haneda is a new offering that is no exception. It's exactly what I was hoping for, and my patience has been rewarded. Over 42:36, Cruel Force delivers a speed/thrash album with more melodic layers. This touch is particularly noticeable on tracks like Sword of Iron from 1:31 onwards (compared to their first two albums, which lean more towards blackened speed/thrash metal, and their latest album, which, in my opinion, represents a pivotal musical transition). On the new album the style remains true to the speed and thrash metal of the 80s, but with a modern touche, as evidenced on tracks like Savage Gods. The German band has also skillfully balanced fast tempos with heavier passages, using tempo changes to reinforce the structure of the compositions, evident on the track like Warlords, where I also appreciated the drumming.
Among the moments I particularly enjoyed was the guitar performance on Savage Gods from 1:50 onwards. On Crystal Skull, the mystical opening introduces a frenetic track that makes you want to headbang. It's a song where the band demonstrates its instrumental mastery, later confirmed on the eponymous track Haneda, a longer track that allows the musicians to showcase their creativity. I also loved the composition and the old-school atmosphere that develops on Black Talon, from 2:29 onwards, with a well-executed solo. On Titan's Awakening, the instruments know no respite and follow one another at a fast pace in a frenetic frenzy.
The vocals are harsh and aggressive, directly reminiscent of 80s speed and thrash metal. I particularly enjoyed the vocal performance on Sword of Iron from 0:45 onwards, which adds a rebellious edge. On tracks like Black Talon, Titan's Awakening, and Haneda, the vocals are relentless, displaying their full intensity and reaching their peak, notably thanks to louder screams and greater stamina. As for the production, it's organic and 'clean', while maintaining a genuinely old-school sound.
To conclude this review, I think Haneda is a very different album from anything Cruel Force has released before. It's an album that blends speed/thrash metal and heavy metal, while also incorporating a melodic dimension that sometimes evokes Kreator. The band adds an epic and dramatic atmosphere that perhaps makes all the difference. Cruel Force has crafted a compelling album, one I was eagerly anticipating and thoroughly enjoyed. Well done, Cruel Force.
