Review by Adam M on October 7, 2019.

Exhorder get the Southern flavor down pat with their new album Mourn the Southern Skies. The songs have a brash thrash nature, but also a tinge of the South that makes them even more interesting. These are head-banging songs to get in your head in a similar manner to how Down did with the album NOLA. While there is more of a thrash vibe to these tracks, there is a similar Southern nature to that album or even Corrosion of Conformity that makes it more appealing and authentic.

The songs have some groove to them but maintain the thrash impact to create an assault on the senses. Though there were moments of acoustic bliss on the album, for the most part it kept the pedal to the metal and things moving at a nice pace. Like the classic Down album or any album from Corrosion of Conformity there are certainly some catchy moments as well that will have you thrashing around like a madman. The vocalist is a little different than Phil Anselmo and more typical sounding. Kyle Thomas shows a need to be more traditional sounding as he is with the traditional doom outfit Trouble. The songs themselves are fairly straightforward and fit into a mold that makes them stand out and have an impact. Just see the opener My Time for an example of the razor-sharp Southern thrash nature that the album has. There is certainly the crunch there, but there is also a sludgy aspect to the sound of the tracks that makes them more interesting.

This was a great album for the genre, but bands like Pantera, Corrosion of Conformity and Down have done similar music at least as effectively in the past. This thus has a pedigree to live up to and ends up just sitting in a very good position rather than a great one. Fans of Southern styled music or thrash music will still want to check this album out.

Rating: 7.4 out of 10

Review by Felix on December 12, 2021.

The first time that I listened to Armoured Angel was a relatively strange experience, because in fact I did not listen to the band. Hellbringer's first vinyl turned its rounds on my turn table and the sound of "My Fist Your Face" filled the room. I did not realize that it was a cover because it worked excellently in the context of Hellbringer's own compositions. So now you might have a first indication about the sound of Communion.

The three Australians (Armoured Angel, not Hellbringer) play a very generic, heavy and authentic kind of thrash metal. The riffs on Communion embody brutality in its purest form. At the same time, Armoured Angel present a very casual way of proceeding. The band is not afraid of offering mid-tempo songs ('Castration', the title track), yet I do not miss anything. High speed thrash is always a fine thing, but the violent efficiency of the guitar makes up for this loss. In particular the title track appears as a heavyweight steamroller that has never heard words such as "compromise", "indulgence" or "charity". The thoroughly working riffs of the rasping guitars leave nothing but scorched earth. The raw vocals are the second feature that stands out, while the rhythm section just does its job precisely.

Communion was a demo, but its sound exceeds the expectations. In view of the well-balanced and aggressive mix, uninformed listeners would swear that they are enjoying a regular publication. Dear fellows, you are wrong. Apart from this, the level of musicianship also does not indicate a non-professional formation. Each and every song relies on a solid construction and the band has a very good instinct for the balance between variety and accessibility. For example, the opener scores with a demonically growing introduction, strong verses, a short, pretty dynamic bridge and a stunning up-tempo part at the end. However, the riffs are the stars.

The remaining tracks, 'Tergiversator' and 'My Fist Your Face', make clear that Armoured Angel also cherish rapid thrash. These songs leave an impact, too, yet the more original tracks are the mid-paced pieces. Anyway, all songs are cut from the same cloth and details like the guitar solo of 'Tergiversator' or the smooth flow of 'My Fist Your Face' burn a hole in your brain and make you lose control. This band is simply cool and they play the roles of the unapproachable outsiders in black leather jackets very convincingly. Moreover, the blue vinyl looks great and the entire design of the output (lyric sheet, all songs on one side of the record, a band pic on the other side) deserves applause. I would like to thank the metal archaeologist who dug out this treasure - old school thrashers, it's your turn.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10