Review by Greg on February 19, 2023.

Growing up, be it becoming an adult or getting older, is a crucial part of life, and musical tastes, among all things, more often than not follow the changes at the same pace. Exploring new musical genres, or just the boundaries of the ones you already know, or even shelving some of them for a while or more. Yet, in this ever-changing landscape, sometimes all you need is an album that just goes back to the roots of what you already know and love, in complete counter-trend to all of this, if you will. As you may guess, I wouldn't have lost myself in this preamble if Death For All, first opus by some Polish blokes going by the equally comforting moniker of Razor Of Death, didn't have what it takes to apply for that position.

In a certain sense, R.O.D. have carved their sub-niche. Their style of playing is sort of an abridged version of thrash metal, with quasi-crossover song lengths (but not the same punkiness) and religiously never exceeding 30 seconds at mid-pace at a time, before going back to that maximum speed and energy they're clearly more comfortable at. They're the belligerent answer to their party-loving compatriots Terrordome, in a way. It goes without saying that, songwriting-wise, I can find no better description for Death For All than 'appalling'. There are basically no variations between tracks, a transition usually doesn't happen if there isn't a guitar solo accompanying it, and their only way to string out the song lengths is to start the song again from the beginning (in addition to whatever they did on the intro to 'Born To Be Proud'). Of course, the vocalist is as one-dimensional as you may think. In short, single-minded and boneheaded like very few other things you will come across in your life. The prog-head's worst nightmare.

But, at the very least, is it... dunno, angry? Yeah, you fucking bet.

Having one single trick up your sleeve and basing a whole album on it is doomed to end in failure if the band isn't convincing in what they do, and fortunately R.O.D. do deliver. If the almost total lack of dynamics doesn't bother you (and at this point you should have already closed this page if it does), Death For All is tough shit. Unconvincing riffs are surprisingly very few in number, the drumming is adequately thunderous, and despite the absence of choruses, the vocal parts can be shouted along more often than you would imagine. You may have some gripes with the production, which at times can get too slick (the drum sound, particularly on 'Born To Be Proud', even gives an electronic kit impression) but the mixing is spot on, giving each member the right space, even if the brutish, yelled vocals will probably get on your nerves in the long run.

Whenever you'll need something to headbang to, Death For All will never fail you, and I'm pretty sure R.O.D.'s live shows will be endurance tests for even the toughest necks. But there's very little more than that, and especially not much you'll remember after it will stop playing.

...being a mostly stupid thrasher myself, I really can't shoot it down though. Take this 7 and go away.

Choice cuts: lend an ear to the title-track for the best riff, 'Dead By Dusk' for the blast-beat peppered bridge, 'Chopped By Razor' for general solidness. Then decide if it's worth going on with the rest of Death For All.

Rating: 7 put of 10