Review by Felix on April 29, 2019.

At the end of the eponymous debut of Disciples of the Void, the unforgotten, almighty Quorthon (R.I.P.) raises from the ashes. The epic cover version is a little bit confusing, because the self-composed material does not really match the Viking era of the Swedish idol. However, let's start in a more logical way and let me introduce this duo from Finland. Like many other formations, projects and lone wolfs, the guys want to go back in time. Death to false (black) metal - let's regain its true essence. 

The dramatic intro sets the stage and gives us the opportunity to feed the lions with some Christians, but sorry, don't count on me. I fail due to a lack of criminal energy. However, regardless of my lethargy, the first regular track makes clear that Disciples of the Void do not love experiments. Their fast-paced opener reveals influences of those veterans who combined a very harsh foundation with atmospheric (keyboard) sounds. I am not speaking of Dimmu Borgir, but heroes like Troll or early Emperor come back to life. You have read correctly: early Emperor! So now you should know that we are having a really great debut here. Hymnal lines, triumphant sounds, insane screams and mysterious spoken parts are overshadowed by an omnipresent darkness. "Dominion", the opener, sets the course and further tracks follow in an impressive manner, for example the furious "Per Aspera Ad Noctem". 

In addition to the aforementioned bands, I have to drop names like Limbonic Art or even Forteresse. These pretty different bands have one thing in common with the here presented band, because they also connect mind-blowing, rapid guitars with overflowing keyboard sounds. Disciples of the Void manage cleverly to integrate the more or less harmonic elements without losing the smallest grain of harshness. Only the calm break in "Heirs of the Wormwood" does not convince and lowers the impact of the actually extremely vicious number. But debutants have the right to fail from time to time and yes, all that glitters are not gold. Instead of presenting the Bathory adaption no. 2.966, they would had been well advised to offer one or two further own pieces.

Having that said, the net playtime of roughly 28 minutes indicates a slight lack of substance and that's a pity, because the songs themselves speak a completely different language. Disciples of the Void show in a quite impressive manner that they are able to create an adequate storm of blackness and their music profits from an equally adequate production which lacks neither density nor atmosphere. No doubt, the obviously eternally fertile Finnish underground has spat out its next ominous creature which deserves our attention. I am pretty sure that even Quorthon in Valhalla lends them an ear.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by JD on June 16, 2009.

The sadly now defunct Pantera has been charged with keeping metal alive during the sad dark days when Grunge was thought to be good music( Nah!). Now in 2009... Soldiers Of Scrape are holding the flag of metal high and proudly, and showing that the true flame of metal is alive and now has become a flamethrower to waste the naysayers in their way.

Heavy as a avalanche, complex as any band out there and completely unyielding to the twentieth power... SOS are the true holders of the metal crown. Taking the lessons from such metal legends as Black Sabbath, Overkill and the mighty Slayer... they make music that soothes the angst of any metallic souls, while scaring the living hell out of everyone else who does not have such a soul.

Songs like ‘Cold Beer!’ remind us of great times, while the well written homage to Slayer ‘KFKL’ gives the undisputed Speed kings the highest level of respect for which they have deserved for years and SOS have given... and only a band as good as this could pull that off. Each song is catchy, memorable yet packs enough destructive power that can be measured in nuclear megatons of force.

Follow the Metal Corps in their mission of succeeding in world domination... Soldiers Of Scrape are real because they alone really do speak for metalheads everywhere. My last question before finishing should be on the lips of every proud headbanger throughout the world.

My only question would be: Where do I enlist?

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 10
Atmosphere: 9.5
Production: 9
Originality: 9
Overall: 10

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Review by Drew on July 1, 2008.

The latest release from Soldiers of Scrape, Operation: Shifting Gears, has just about everything that a Metal fan could want. When first listening to the first song, “Blaster”, I was very impressed with the beats and vocals. In fact, I had to look at the picture of the line-up and look for Phil Anselmo, former front man of a band called Pantera. I did not find Anselmo in the line-up anywhere, but I did see Mick on vocals, Face on guitar, Wayne on bass, and drummer Andi. Soldiers of Scrape sound a lot like Pantera, but that’s not a bad thing. The chemistry of these people together speaks volumes in their music and you can tell as each song is just as good as the last.

One particular song, “Old School Metal”, deserves a rating of a 10 in itself because it’s a song that both Metal fans and bands can both relate to. Just as the song says, I’m sure many Metal fans remember coming home from school and listening to Black Sabbath, or even at least one of the other bands they mention in the song. As the song goes on, a verse is dedicated to the Metal “brothers” who have died before they should have like Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and Dimebag Darrell among others. I think once people hear “Old School Metal” they will agree that the song speaks for many Metal fans.

Some other songs to check out are “Blaster”, “KFKR”, “Cold Beer”, and “WET”. “Cold Beer” almost seems like a novelty song about none other than, what else, alcohol. Some novelty songs that certain bands release just suck, but “Cold Beer” is so aggressive that it punches you in throat and leaves you gasping for air and wanting more, so it works well and fits with the aggressive style of Soldiers of Scrape.

Overall, if you like Pantera, you will definitely like Operation: Shifting Gears. I could see a couple of songs on this release catch the attention of the public and find their way onto mainstream radio stations. This is one album that you will keep in your CD player for a while.

Bottom Line: All Metal fans should have this album in their music collection.

Categorical Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 8
Originality: 7
Overall: 8

Rating: 8 out of 10