Review by Felix on March 22, 2020.

Italy was once a sunny country, but the growing number of noise making musicians is working hard to cover the land with darkness. The heirs of Necrodeath and Bulldozer try to take the land by storm, regardless whether they are called Violentor, Blindeath, Baphomet's Blood or, naturally, Surge Assault (and the list could well become an endless one). The latter have released a debut that puts a stoke in the wheel of those guys who say that black metal and thrash are no longer exciting. Those naysayers whine that these sub genres do not deliver new aspects. How tragic! Well, at the same time they are sitting in their pub, drinking their ten-thousandth beer and enjoy the fact that it tastes exactly like it has always tasted before... Yes, things are quite easy: if you like the formula itself, you like to get new stuff which is precisely based on this formula. Good news, Surge Assault know the recipe for suspenseful black thrash hammers, and they perform them with an evasive freshness.

Of course, the Italian squadron is roughly comparable with other black thrash combat units. At the end of the day, all bands of the pretty narrow-minded bastard scene are more or less comparable with each other. However, the here presented formation does not follow the most primitive approach. Already the durations of the single songs indicate that Surge Assault are not interested in stealing our time with awkward, quickly compiled compositions. Thus, the listener is never at risk to be confronted with overly simple or even insubstantial songs. The opposite is true. Surge Assault present well designed tracks without neglecting the necessary degree of spontaneity and impulsiveness. This means that the lead vocalist is not afraid of an ugly (yet totally convincing) performance and the instrumentalists are aware of the fact that high velocity ennobles each album of the sub-genre. Yet they also do not shy away from powerful mid-tempo sequences. In terms of black thrash, the six minutes of 'Whoreship Me' shape an almost epic number and exactly this tune is kicked off by mercilessly howling guitars that do not strive for high-speed. Do not get me wrong, the song has some fast-paced parts as well. Yet this mixture shows the entire force of the Italians. They do not overload the pieces with tempo changes, weird lines and breaks, but they integrate more than one riff per song. Thus, fans of formations such as Nifelheim should quickly lend an ear to Lust & Misery.

Equipped with an overwhelming dose of currishness and a strong will, the non-fickle band makes excellent use of the usual tools in order to create a homogeneous and authentic album. One can feel their juvenile enthusiasm, the lust for destruction and, to my surprise, the mature degree of their technical skills. Hence follows that the full-length offers an intensive, fanatic and sensational listening experience. Tracks like 'In Hell from Earth' are really forged in hellfire. Indeed, Surge Assault know, although they do not have much in common with these guys at all, the old title from Heathen's second album: mercy is no virtue. With this in mind, the band commutes between total destruction ('Anti Human Black Thrash') and rather occult spheres (for example, the beginning of 'Infernal Riot') while avoiding any sort of banality and triviality.

Finally, the fact that the songs are presented with a heavy, hard and surprisingly modern sound matches the approach of the band. Thus, I cannot identify any kind of serious deficiencies and I hope that Surge Assault are heading for a lasting career - whatever the word "career" may mean in terms of black thrash metal. Anyway, it is not enough to say that the band has an enormous potential. No, better still: Surge Assault attack with an absolutely perfect debut. This is the blackened Italian version of "Bonded by Blood", a mind-blowing work that would take the scene by storm in a fairer world. From the first tone of the opener to the last tone of the closer, which delivers inter alia concise gang vocals ("Hey you Satan"), everything deserves the highest applause. Italy, I am sure, will fall into darkness.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Review by Felix on March 22, 2020.

Italy was once a sunny country, but the growing number of noise making musicians is working hard to cover the land with darkness. The heirs of Necrodeath and Bulldozer try to take the land by storm, regardless whether they are called Violentor, Blindeath, Baphomet's Blood or, naturally, Surge Assault (and the list could well become an endless one). The latter have released a debut that puts a stoke in the wheel of those guys who say that black metal and thrash are no longer exciting. Those naysayers whine that these sub genres do not deliver new aspects. How tragic! Well, at the same time they are sitting in their pub, drinking their ten-thousandth beer and enjoy the fact that it tastes exactly like it has always tasted before... Yes, things are quite easy: if you like the formula itself, you like to get new stuff which is precisely based on this formula. Good news, Surge Assault know the recipe for suspenseful black thrash hammers, and they perform them with an evasive freshness.

Of course, the Italian squadron is roughly comparable with other black thrash combat units. At the end of the day, all bands of the pretty narrow-minded bastard scene are more or less comparable with each other. However, the here presented formation does not follow the most primitive approach. Already the durations of the single songs indicate that Surge Assault are not interested in stealing our time with awkward, quickly compiled compositions. Thus, the listener is never at risk to be confronted with overly simple or even insubstantial songs. The opposite is true. Surge Assault present well designed tracks without neglecting the necessary degree of spontaneity and impulsiveness. This means that the lead vocalist is not afraid of an ugly (yet totally convincing) performance and the instrumentalists are aware of the fact that high velocity ennobles each album of the sub-genre. Yet they also do not shy away from powerful mid-tempo sequences. In terms of black thrash, the six minutes of 'Whoreship Me' shape an almost epic number and exactly this tune is kicked off by mercilessly howling guitars that do not strive for high-speed. Do not get me wrong, the song has some fast-paced parts as well. Yet this mixture shows the entire force of the Italians. They do not overload the pieces with tempo changes, weird lines and breaks, but they integrate more than one riff per song. Thus, fans of formations such as Nifelheim should quickly lend an ear to Lust & Misery.

Equipped with an overwhelming dose of currishness and a strong will, the non-fickle band makes excellent use of the usual tools in order to create a homogeneous and authentic album. One can feel their juvenile enthusiasm, the lust for destruction and, to my surprise, the mature degree of their technical skills. Hence follows that the full-length offers an intensive, fanatic and sensational listening experience. Tracks like 'In Hell from Earth' are really forged in hellfire. Indeed, Surge Assault know, although they do not have much in common with these guys at all, the old title from Heathen's second album: mercy is no virtue. With this in mind, the band commutes between total destruction ('Anti Human Black Thrash') and rather occult spheres (for example, the beginning of 'Infernal Riot') while avoiding any sort of banality and triviality.

Finally, the fact that the songs are presented with a heavy, hard and surprisingly modern sound matches the approach of the band. Thus, I cannot identify any kind of serious deficiencies and I hope that Surge Assault are heading for a lasting career - whatever the word "career" may mean in terms of black thrash metal. Anyway, it is not enough to say that the band has an enormous potential. No, better still: Surge Assault attack with an absolutely perfect debut. This is the blackened Italian version of "Bonded by Blood", a mind-blowing work that would take the scene by storm in a fairer world. From the first tone of the opener to the last tone of the closer, which delivers inter alia concise gang vocals ("Hey you Satan"), everything deserves the highest applause. Italy, I am sure, will fall into darkness.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Review by Felix on March 22, 2020.

Italy was once a sunny country, but the growing number of noise making musicians is working hard to cover the land with darkness. The heirs of Necrodeath and Bulldozer try to take the land by storm, regardless whether they are called Violentor, Blindeath, Baphomet's Blood or, naturally, Surge Assault (and the list could well become an endless one). The latter have released a debut that puts a stoke in the wheel of those guys who say that black metal and thrash are no longer exciting. Those naysayers whine that these sub genres do not deliver new aspects. How tragic! Well, at the same time they are sitting in their pub, drinking their ten-thousandth beer and enjoy the fact that it tastes exactly like it has always tasted before... Yes, things are quite easy: if you like the formula itself, you like to get new stuff which is precisely based on this formula. Good news, Surge Assault know the recipe for suspenseful black thrash hammers, and they perform them with an evasive freshness.

Of course, the Italian squadron is roughly comparable with other black thrash combat units. At the end of the day, all bands of the pretty narrow-minded bastard scene are more or less comparable with each other. However, the here presented formation does not follow the most primitive approach. Already the durations of the single songs indicate that Surge Assault are not interested in stealing our time with awkward, quickly compiled compositions. Thus, the listener is never at risk to be confronted with overly simple or even insubstantial songs. The opposite is true. Surge Assault present well designed tracks without neglecting the necessary degree of spontaneity and impulsiveness. This means that the lead vocalist is not afraid of an ugly (yet totally convincing) performance and the instrumentalists are aware of the fact that high velocity ennobles each album of the sub-genre. Yet they also do not shy away from powerful mid-tempo sequences. In terms of black thrash, the six minutes of 'Whoreship Me' shape an almost epic number and exactly this tune is kicked off by mercilessly howling guitars that do not strive for high-speed. Do not get me wrong, the song has some fast-paced parts as well. Yet this mixture shows the entire force of the Italians. They do not overload the pieces with tempo changes, weird lines and breaks, but they integrate more than one riff per song. Thus, fans of formations such as Nifelheim should quickly lend an ear to Lust & Misery.

Equipped with an overwhelming dose of currishness and a strong will, the non-fickle band makes excellent use of the usual tools in order to create a homogeneous and authentic album. One can feel their juvenile enthusiasm, the lust for destruction and, to my surprise, the mature degree of their technical skills. Hence follows that the full-length offers an intensive, fanatic and sensational listening experience. Tracks like 'In Hell from Earth' are really forged in hellfire. Indeed, Surge Assault know, although they do not have much in common with these guys at all, the old title from Heathen's second album: mercy is no virtue. With this in mind, the band commutes between total destruction ('Anti Human Black Thrash') and rather occult spheres (for example, the beginning of 'Infernal Riot') while avoiding any sort of banality and triviality.

Finally, the fact that the songs are presented with a heavy, hard and surprisingly modern sound matches the approach of the band. Thus, I cannot identify any kind of serious deficiencies and I hope that Surge Assault are heading for a lasting career - whatever the word "career" may mean in terms of black thrash metal. Anyway, it is not enough to say that the band has an enormous potential. No, better still: Surge Assault attack with an absolutely perfect debut. This is the blackened Italian version of "Bonded by Blood", a mind-blowing work that would take the scene by storm in a fairer world. From the first tone of the opener to the last tone of the closer, which delivers inter alia concise gang vocals ("Hey you Satan"), everything deserves the highest applause. Italy, I am sure, will fall into darkness.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Review by Adam on August 21, 2002.

Who would have seen this coming? I remember hearing some demos of these guys a year or two ago and being pretty unimpressed. I would not have guessed that in just a few short years that they would create such an amazing death metal record as this! The music manages to be both undeniably brutal and incredibly melodic at the same time. This is truly melodic death metal if I have ever heard it before.

“God Was Created” is a breathe of fresh air in an otherwise dusty and boring metal sub genre. Here the listener is given almost a whole hour of quality extreme metal. Each song is epic and very enjoyable to listen to. It is one of those albums where it is better to sit down and listen to it the whole way through. The lyrics are vivid and brutally violent. Much of the vocal delivery compliments such lyrical content. In this case there is a bit in common with bands like Cannibal Corpse, but that is where such comparisons end. The music is very technical and brutal at times yet extremely melodic as well. This gives the record a more dynamic feel and the song lengths give the album an epic feel.

The music is what really sets these guys apart from many of their brutal death metal counterparts. The guitarists are very skilled in what they do. They go from technical death to melodic leads seamlessly. The drummer’s playing is exceptional as well. The more guttural styled screaming may be an acquired for some taste; however, there is enough diversification between vocal styles that one will soon forget they even had a problem with them in the first place. This record is a must for fans of extreme metal. Even those who are not into the brutal death style will still be able to find something they like in “God Was Created”. It is one of those death metal releases that sidesteps sub genres and just offers good music. This record can appeal to any Dark Tranquillity fan as much as it can to any fan of Nile or Cannibal Corpse. I truly believe this to be without a doubt the best extreme metal release this year!

Bottom Line: Fans of extreme metal and brutal death need this! Fans of melodic death metal should buy this as well!

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Originality: 9
Musicianship: 10
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 9
Overall: 9

Rating: 9 out of 10