Band: Bastard
Title: Aftermath
Label: STF-Records
Distribution: CMS
Release date: April 1st 2010
Review: CD

There are/ were several Metal bands called Bastard. There’s one from Iceland (Black / Death Metal), one from Colombia and one from Holland (both of them performing Death Metal during the early nineties), a Bastard from Czech Republic (Heavy Metal), two bands coming from Poland (the current one bringing Death / Thrash Metal, and an early nineties-one, that changed its moniker into Lues Primaria in 1993) and there used to be a so-called Black Metal formation in Austria too, yet this one stopped after the release of just one demo tape. And if I’m not mistaken, there’s a Bastard in Germany’s Saarwellingen, performing British-inspired Heavy Metal
This German one, however, hailing from Baden-Württemberg, started about ten years ago, but throughout the years, this formation didn’t release grand chose. There was the mini-album Fetus Of God (April 2002; independent release), and in 2005 Bastard released a demo-CD, including the tracks of their 2002-EP, and three live bonus tracks. And now, after ten years, the quartet finally releases its official full length debut album, which has duration of thirty seven minutes.
The band’s melodic Death Metal comes with a no-nonsense approach that reminds me to the (late) nineties. Indeed, no pure ‘old school’ material this time, no modern and progressive compositions either. On the contrary, like many bands from the nineties, Bastard concentrate on the purity, the basic essence. Firm and melodious guitar riffs, a straight-forward yet very supportive rhythm section, and abyssal growls, these are the ingredients - no female chants and harmonious choirs, no keyboards or electronics, no samples, no progressive or avant-garde additions, no emotional acoustics, no samples or in- and outros.
And this brings us to the final question: will this album do, will it stand out?

77/100

Ivan Tibos.