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The
fact that the Basque country doesn’t normally position itself by
producing influential metal bands is not necessarily same as saying
that there aren’t anyone there who understands what metal music is
all about. Beware thrash fans; the quartet Legen Beltza have been
around for almost a decade and have picked up a trick or two along
the way, something they readily show with this their third
release proper.
Marking
a notable progression in terms of song writing as well as sound,
‘Dimension of Pain’ is by far the superior album compared to
2003’s ‘Insanity’. Where said
album was leaning heavily on a German approach to thrash metal (a la
Destruction in many places), the latest offering has a far more
American sound and roundness. There’s more Testament here than
Destruction, and this is a good move from the Basques. And the
guitar work is in places absolutely fantastic – Iron Maiden
harmonies, catchy, technical, intelligent. Good stuff.
Xanti’s
vocals are an acquired taste, but this time around his effort seems
more focused and fits the music very well. A couple of growls here
and there are welcome, though and fare well with the darker sound.
This
album is a little thrash gem. Check it out.
Recommended:
"Meet Me in the Dark" (catchy as f*ck chorus), "Calling
the Black Storm" (Hammer intro!), "Ilunpean Dituzu" (tech/prog
intro and who said that thrash songs couldn’t be sung in Basque?!),
"War of Wars & War of Wars 2" (all in all 17 minutes
of thrash epos)
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