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The 5th

    
       
       
       
     
             
Vendetta are a thrash metal band from Germany formed in 1984 releasing their debut album in 1987 and their follow up, the much admired and influential 'Brain Damage'. The band dissolved in 1990 but was resurrected ten years later by founding member Klaus 'Heiner' Ullrich, assembling a new line-up and releasing the bands third album in 2007. Their fourth album saw the light of day in 2011 and after thirty three years since the release of their debut album, Vendetta are set to launch their fifth album, (simply) titled 'The 5th'.    
             
The German style of thrash metal has always been brutal, raw and in your face, with pioneers Kreator, Destruction, Sodom and Exumer setting the path for so many to follow. Vendetta arose around the same time as these iconic bands, with their brand of thrash just as brutal and raw. The bands fifth album delivers a hard punch to the head as it opens with 'Fragile'. Chugging relentlessly, and rampaging like a rhino stampede, 'Fragile' is brutal thrash metal that hits the spot. Guitars are shredding, the solos screech and scream and the pummelling rhythm will have you head banging very hard. 'Let 'Er Rip' is a two minute rocket fuelled and jet propelled thunder storm of in your face thrash metal, that is so heavy it will crumble buildings. The pace of the album has been set as lightning quick by the opening double barrelled salvo and it just gets quicker as 'Deadly Sin' blazes in and leaves a trail of devastation in its wake. 'Deadly Sin' is aggressive and angry, brutal and blunt and will hit you very hard between the eyes. Blistering guitars and vocals that are gruff not growly with a throaty rasp and 'The 5th' is turning in a great performance.    
             
'Agency Of Liberty' takes on a heavier and more menacing feel as it rumbles along. Thudding hard, your feet will be stomping like you're trying to smash the ground underneath. Vendetta are proving they are still a force in the thrash metal genre and are keeping Germany well and truly on the international map, adding 'The 5th' to recent releases by fellow countrymen Kreator, Sodom, Destruction and Exumer. The mellow twanging of 'The Search' gives the listener a short breather as it winds up and leads into 'The Prophecy'. High on energy and intensity, 'The Prophecy' is full tilt thrash metal that will whip the mosh pit into a frenzied blur of banging heads and raised fists. With its mid tempo breaks and high velocity shredding 'The Prophecy' meanders a majestic path through the thrash metal genre.    
             
With an eerie, haunting and chillingly spoken word intro 'Shame On You' is one of those frightening moments when you feel someone is creeping up behind you...and then with a bang, the tempo changes and the thundering pace returns as 'Shame On You' steams off into the distance. The screaming and screeching solos that 'Shame On You' features are an absolute pleasure to listen to. The fastest and most brutal song on the album 'Religion Is A Killer' is a head bangers dream. High on pace, energy and intensity, 'Religion Is A Killer' is a breath taking thrash metal assault that will have your head off its shoulders such is the ferocity of the head banging that you'll be doing. The album clocks in at only forty minutes in length and therefore sadly comes to a close too soon, but not without a twist. Final song 'Nevermind' lacks pace and the acoustic led guitar intro seems well out of place considering the velocity of the rest of the album. Dare I say that you may just be reaching for your lighters to hold aloft as 'Nevermind' ambles along at ballad pace...ending the album in a rather subdued fashion.    
             
Overall, brutal and blunt, aggressive and angry, Vendetta have delivered a powerful, high paced and thunderous thrash metal album.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
Other Reviews    
             

           
           
Black As Coal      
           
"a fast paced, head bang-able and thoroughly enjoyable slab of thrash metal with an immense infectious level" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             
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