The
female quintet from Singapore TORMENTRESS had grown up from
its fan’s inventions to full length debut. Their production is in the stream
of the thrash bands, and inspired from the old bands they interpreted the
gender in the spirit of their early demos in something that I could call dirty thrash metal.
Yet
with the introduction the ladies lead us to a musical puzzle of quotations.
The puzzle is not very complex, and it could be said that it is made of 12
pieces as is the number of the tracks. The main approach of the band is to
catch some of the most successful riffs of the classic bands, and to make
around it its own interpretation. This
kind of approach does not presume particular music wealth, and the songs are
accommodated under the three minutes long format. BEST OF the riffs according
TORMENTRESS includes the names: SODOM, DESTRUCTION, SLAYER, METALLICA, OVERKILL, VIO-LENCE.
I
could point the names of the tracks as well, but this is not necessary
because „Operation Torment“ has its own charm. The
girls were not embarrassed to touch some other riffs of the bands working in
other sub-genders of metal like CANDLEMASS and EXPLOITED.
The
aggressive whistling vocals of Neezie „unfold“ in
maximum 3 tones in a track – a performance that is as much as poor as a cult.
The sound of the album had emphasized middle frequencies, and reminds a lot
many times re-recorded cassette or the early demos of the European thrash
archetypes. The cover song of KREATOR „Tormentor“ is such a reference,
and it is not changed except the vocals. Although the decisions for such cult
sound the band definitely has to think for a better production in its future
recordings!
TORMENTRESS had grown up from its fan’s
inventions to full length debut but they did not overgrow them. The pleasant
artwork and the metal logo pack an unripe work. But with clear conscience I
can recommend these girls to all thrash maniacs.
