Review by HanSathanas on March 25, 2026.

Cruel Force is a force to be reckoned with. Their works, however, have generated quite a buzz in the underground scene, particularly among the black / death circles. While they are not the most original outfit to have played black thrash hybrid, the band has a few interesting takes on the sub-genres, making them yet another worthy addition to the already saturated spectrum.

Obviously, they bring nothing new to the table. Here, Cruel Force assembled some rhythms, joined together by a series of chord progressions that bring to mind the likes of early Celtic Frost and even Venom. Hell, they even covered 'Necromansy' by Bathory. The latter, while being famous in itself, has yet again achieved notoriety for being a reference point that many fans felt Vikernes might as well have stolen the main riff for his equally well-known song 'War' in the self-titled debut.

Music-wise, Cruel Force embellished upon the well-established tenets, especially at the blackest end of the thrash metal palette. The riffs are unmistakably thrash, but with black lava bleeding from the wounds, so to speak. From the head-bludgeoning opener 'Witches Curse', all the way to 'March For The Pentagram', you are getting what you are paying for. Despite not being too high a price, Cruel Force still plays it safe. They don't venture into territory anew. Exploration is for those who don't belong in this subgenre. The mood on this record is generally evil, malevolent and unrepentant. Add to that the eternal devotion to all things Satanic, and then bands like Cruel Force might really well be up your alley.

Again, the riffs are quite impressive. The only low point, I think, is in 'Forces Of Hades'. I didn't actually read the other reviews of this album, but I would really like to point out the obvious: Cruel Force has 'stolen' the main riff of this song from Dimmu Borgir's 'Hunnerkongens Sorgsvarte Ferd Over Steppene'. Obviously, Cruel Force made no homage to Dimmu Borgir, not that I know of. So I don't know what the real story is here, other than the fact that 'Forces Of Hades' contains the ever memorable chugging thrash riff from 'Hunnerkongens..' Other than that, The Rise Of Satanic Might is a hidden gem that needs to be appreciated by a wider audience. The production job is good enough for this type of music. The instrumentation is audible enough, leaving some breathing space in between the chaotic fury of a black thrashing whirlwind of riff, the never-ending barrage of drum beats that are firing left and right like howitzers, and carnivorous vocals that come straight from the bowels of hell. The bass guitar gives a thick edge to the overall sound. Whether GG Alex is going nuts with the double bass drums, Evil Warrior always got his back, throwing the sound forward while Teutonic Slaughter claws his way through with razor wire guitars, gutting bystanders left and right.

If you want your black thrash a little crazy, this album is the way to go. The Rise Of Satanic Might can also be a good introduction to those who are not yet familiar with black and thrash hybrid (I wonder if there are metal fans out there who still do not know what black thrash is or what it generally sounds like!). A good album, actually, but don't expect originality. It may be a pure coincidence, but one of their songs has riffs that are similar to a song written by Dimmu Borgir. And if you have heard the old Dimmu Borgir, especially between "For All Tid" and "Enthrone Darkness Triumphant" (even "Godless Savage Garden"), then you will know what I am talking about here. These guys are promising. Give them a little time to grow, and they might as well stand shoulder to shoulder with the pack leaders of the scene. Recommended for fans of Destroyer 666, Aura Noir, etc.

Rating: 7.4 out of 10

Review by Felix on February 20, 2023.

The career of Cruel Force in keywords: very good debut, phenomenal successor, game over. I really hate the fact that "Under the Sign of the Moon" remained the last sign of life of this promising formation. However, "The Rise of Satanic Might" is the topic of this review. Obviously, the album suffers from a slightly ridiculous cover. What does the devil do at the top of the mountains? Already back in 1989, the Japanese combat unit Sabbat knew that "The Devil's Sperm Is Cold", but I guess he will just get a bad cold. Yet we have better things to do than to speculate about the state of health of Mister Satan.

The edition of Heavy Forces delivers a lot of nice gimmicks; white vinyl, printed inner sleeve, a sticker and an enormous poster. Only the music does not deliver a lot of unexpected features. To avoid misunderstandings, Cruel Force have penned a strong black thrash metal album. Guitarist Teutonic Slaughter, their only songwriter, does not run out of puff. It is no secret that the band needs a Bathory cover to break the 30 minutes mark, but the crucial fact is that each and every of Teutonic Slaughter's compositions is solidly designed. The Germans are inspired by Quorthon's early works and do not reinvent the wheel, but one has to keep in mind that they play black thrash. This bastard genre has never put the focus on innovation. Of greater relevance is the fact that Cruel Force channel their energy successfully. The inexorability of the riffs goes hand in hand with the mainly fast rhythms and the raw vocals add their part as well. Straightness and compactness form the songs, but their directness does not preclude some fine solos. The restless and comparatively long "Victim of Hellfire" comes to my mind in this context. By the way, this title indicates the very sensitive poetry of the lyrics. For example, "Queen of Heresy" deals with a woman called Elizabeth Bathory, never heard of that lady... The case is clear, this lyrical approach is not very original. Nevertheless, blackened thrash asks for this type of texts. As a side note: the lyrics of the dark closer ("March For the Pentagram") differ from that of "Leather and Metal", although the flawed inner sleeve says something different.

"The Rise of the Satanic Might" reflects the tradition-conscious mentality of its creators. It has no experimental touch, but it flexes its muscles several times. "Deathstrike" marks the climax of the album. The fast opener of the B side scores with its irresistible leads and the minimalist chorus, while the first song of the A side starts with majestic lines and beats, before it turns out to be another speed attack. Too bad that it holds the only mediocre solo of the album. Its squeaking guitar does not match the fundamental darkness of the sound. Be that as it may, the following "Satanic Might" is free from any signs of weakness. Belligerent riffs, effective drum rolls and the rebellious voice shape a great piece. Anyway, as mentioned above, there are no throwaway tracks on this debut, although "Leather and Metal" is almost painfully primitive.

A certain primitiveness also characterises the sound of the album. The rumbling double bass and the sometimes non-existent bass guitar have the power to drive sound fetishists crazy. Yet only ignorant cretins would call this mix ill-defined. It goes without saying that the here presented style is prone to seedy, more or less dirty productions that convey this specific old school feeling. I do not want to listen to clinical numbers that lack of sulphur and I am sure that the guys of Aura Noir or Nifelheim share my opinion. With that said, the mix of "The Rise of Satanic Might" is no problem at all, at least from my point of view. Quite the opposite, it shows that the formation has set the right priorities. Sharp riffs beat glamorous sounds - and I like it. Thus, let me summarize this review in keyboards: honest black thrash metal with an appropriate sound.

Rating: 8.2 out of 10