LP Review: "Lords of the Permafrost" by Usurper

Lords of the Permafrost

In the middle 1990's, a band formed that was strong and legendary.

That band recorded five albums and called it a day in 2005. This band of course, was Usurper.

Now, we all know how metal is. There are a great deal of amazing, legendary, and staggeringly good metal bands, but they're all pretty much underground.

So for me, it's Usurper, welcome back and it's so wonderful to meet you.

In this case, without fear of contradiction, I can say that their reputation is quite well earned.

Lords of the Permafrost takes me back to a time when death metal was heavy, but it wasn't so heavy that, well you know my speech certainly. The biggest change between the before time and the current time that Usurper embodies...is my personal favorite.

The guitarists don't always simply play the same rhythm chunks in order to pound the listeners' ear canals into bloody submission, but they harmonize, play arpeggios, and yes, offer bitchin' guitar solos.

Lords of the Permaforst is a perfect death metal record from top to bottom. Welcome home, Usurper. We're better off having you back.

RELEASE 2/22/19 BANDCAMP FACEBOOK 

Classic Spins with Usurper's Rick Scythe

Usurper

If you get into your way back machine, head to Chicago in the early to mid nineties and you can meet this band that continued to write heavy metal Dungeons & Dragons long after it had been deemed cool.

That band was called Usurper and they've returned to the fore in order to bring us more heavy metal based folklore.

They were one of the first extreme metal bands to sing about those old heavy metal ideas.

Here's the good news, they're back and ready to drop their new record, Lords of the Permafrost, but that's not hitting your ear holes for about a month yet. Check back for a full review.

In the meantime, Rick Scythe is the first person to check in on my new column, Classic Spins.

Let's get it on.