Band: Battalion

Title: Welcome To The Warzone

Label: Shiver Records

Distribution: LSP Company

Release date: May 2008

Review: CD

Battalion ’s second full length album (the first one was Winter Campaign, also released through the splendid Belgian label Shiver Records) has duration of forty two minutes and was recorded, just like the debut, at the famous CCR Studio (Thurisaz, Moker, Pantheist, Retaliate, Putrid Inbred and so on). Just like the former one, this album comes with an overwhelming and powerful sound, which fits well to the somewhat old school-inspired Death Metal. There is a lot of variation between the technical and brutal songs; this goes for the tempo (from slow over mid-tempo to very fast), the arrangements of the compositions and the breaks. And what’s more: Battalion clearly seem to have found a path they want to follow. And believe me: it is a warmongering path, straight to the battlefields. Welcome To The Warzone still is inspired by bands as early Entombed, My Darkest Hate, Massacre, Bolt Thrower, Grave, Six Feet Under, Bloodbath, Obituary, Aborted or Edge Of Sanity, but more than before, it all comes with an own approach of oppressing, victorious, ponderous warlust. Also the few Grind-elements from the former release have mainly disappeared on this album, and this has probably been replaced by even more mature technical craftsmanship. Damn, this is good stuff, a real recommendation to everyone who appreciates at least one of higher mentioned bands.

85/100

Ivan Tibos.