Seven albums into their career, Japan’s long standing riff masters Survive have proven neither time, millage or volume can slow them down. If the sound’s on new record Immortal Warriors are any indication, they’re getting louder, faster and heavier with age with vocalist/guitarist Nemo , guitarist Gaku, bassist Sinjilow and drummer Shintarou blasting out new audio plunder.
Blending thrash, new and oldschool black metal with symphonic backgrounds and atmosphere. They’ve made an album bringing Soulfly, Pantera and Dimmu Borgir to the same late night forest ceremony.
The bludgeoning Tokyo force have played a large list of festivals including Loud Park, Beast Fest, Korean Live Rock, Asia Metal Festival, Dongducheon Rock Festival and Trendkill Extreme Feast, also touring with Behemoth, Testament, Anthrax, Napalm Death, Amon Amarth and Venom Inc.
The cauldron brew of Krisiun, and Crowbar swirls with nasty hot sparks hissing, ready to pour molten metal into your ears led by Nemo’s snarling, growling Cavalera inspired vocals.
| The church bell tolls the dead over rumblings of war with “Degenerate” as a surprising dose of Scandinavian sound and blood splashes the ear. Slow crunching notes with black metal guitar work as black metal bars throb through strings. A lantern lit graveyard stroll is partaken, with riffs straight from the wicked Norwegian forest with vocals casting cold lunged misty shadows.
The official pounding begins with “Wrath” bashing with thrashes and hits, immediately pummeling with grungy guitar riffs and frantic pace everywhere with a few minor hints of Dimebag’s influence in the grandiose solo. “Immortal Warriors” is a thrashy melodic headbanger, with guitars going wild and a slower pace almost in sing along mode with fast moving quantities of shred. A slow section allows a ‘80s shout a long feel, marching forward. “Tears of the Victims” gives off shades of Vader with head crushing, glass smashing, metal decadence. Guitars rise and fall snapping and slicing through riffs, creating noise to bite through granite and steel. Blast beat drums and guitars give a surprise whiplash end, stopping dead and abruptly cold.
“Obey Your Own Army Corps” could be their version of Suicidal Tendencies Join The Army. Bass pedals pummel feet and speakers with notes and riffs fast enough to rip off flesh with hellraising effect along with a nice surprise thudding stop near the beginning to make sure you’re listening “Wither My Dying Blood” is possibly the coolest title on the record with a catchy chorus. A concert pit foot stomper with atmosphere adding heavy ingredients, giving a bombastic feel, akin to Dimmu Borgir. Choirs start “Control the Darkness” as scrap iron guitars join the fray, grooving with vocal riffs in the chorus and guitar work from the minds of Van Halen and Dimebag. “Blood and Sacrifice” is the perfect complement of symphony and thrash fusion as guitars wail and the chorus sings. “Master of Puppets” let’s face it; it takes major balls to cover a true thrash gem and signature tune from the fathers of the thrash four. They make it their own, with a nice punctuated exclamation point to end things on. Immortal Warriors is a great introduction for first time listeners and a worthy addition to their history for long standing fans.
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