After producing one in every of 2022’s biggest items of album artwork, Mitchell Nolte is again with a vengeance. The fantasy scene that graces Raider’s Trial by Chaos depicts a lone warrior battling a sea of dragons, snakes, and cephalopods attacking from each route. Violent, claustrophobic, and indulgent, it’s an ideal match for the music. Canada’s Raider focuses on an explosive model of loss of life-thrash that retains the dial turned to 11 always. Regardless of the improbable artwork, I solely had middling hopes for Trial by Chaos, a sophomore self-launch in a crowded style from a band I hadn’t heard earlier than. I ought to’ve remembered the previous musical adage: at all times decide an album by its cowl. Like Nolte’s artwork, Trial by Chaos is a brutal triumph.
Put together your earballs for a world of indignant thrash. Trial by Chaos’ frenzied riffs inhabit the wondrous deathy fringe of thrash steel, echoing late golden period bands like Demolition Hammer and descendants like Revocation. However that isn’t all. When Trial by Chaos settles into a less complicated loss of life steel routine with fewer unhinged twists and turns, it remembers Morbid Angel. Conversely, nicely-positioned melodic leads permit Raider to veer near Skeletonwitch territory after they so want. Briefly, Raider does a lot. However their aim is single-minded: like Nolte’s dragons, Raider surrounds you with an onslaught of monstrous riffs. Trial by Chaos is countless enjoyable, but it surely’s not for the faint of coronary heart.
Trial by Chaos’ density and unrelenting velocity received me over. The sheer variety of concepts on show is ear-popping, and every one disembowels you from a unique angle. In that sense, this album jogs my memory of my first time with Morbid Saint’s Spectrum of Demise. The easy loss of life steel sections of Trial by Chaos are plain healthful enjoyable, usually with sufficient elaborations to keep away from sounding brainless (“Ceremony of Conquest”). The frequent technically demanding segments are simply as thrilling, just like the acrobatic eight-measure-lengthy principal riff of “New Dominion.” Predictably, the climaxes land with a metric shitton of power as nicely. The seething vocals deserve a number of credit score on this entrance, which I hardly ever say about excessive steel. Ranging between a threatening rasp and a Glen-Benton-type roar, Angelo Bonaccorso’s storytelling transforms sections just like the hopeless ending of “New Dominion” and the earworm refrain of “Labyrinth” into emotive present-stoppers. Raider’s refusal to dial it again is their biggest energy, but it surely presents some challenges. Trial by Chaos is so dense that it’s troublesome to maintain up with, and I generally discover myself shedding monitor of riffs mid-tune. After the album ends, I vividly keep in mind getting curb-stomped, however can’t at all times recall every blow. Nonetheless, Trial by Chaos’ barrage of power leaves me dumbfounded after each pay attention.
Trial by Chaos is as dense as a black gap, however Raider’s songwriting chops forestall it from imploding. Raider’s intelligent rhythms function a foreshadowing device and as superglue holding songs collectively, just like the triplets scattered all through “Ceremony of Conquest” and the booming three-chord sequences of “Devour the Darkness.” Angus Pike’s drums roar to life after they’re wanted most, including thunderous emphasis to climactic moments (“Fearless”). Refusing to be outmatched, guitarists Gabe Rosa and Bennett Smith expertly use two or three guitar components so as to add depth and selection to their richly layered blitzkrieg (“Juggernaut Cerebrivore”). This meticulous writing makes the album a cohesive entrance and an absolute pleasure. Certainly, I usually discover myself most excited for Raider’s exhilarating 180-degree turns, just like the unbelievable transition into the final guitar solo on “Labyrinth.” Most of Trial by Chaos’ 39-minute runtime flies by. Nevertheless, the final two tracks, that are the longest, don’t maintain up in addition to the primary six. Particularly given how in-your-face Raider’s type is, trimming some repetition right here would assist the file really feel punchier and fewer drawn-out. Even so, this can be a nitpick; no tune on Trial by Chaos tempts me to hit the skip button.
It’s no marvel that Redefining Darkness Information instantly picked up Raider upon the discharge of Trial by Chaos. Given my already excessive opinion of Redefining Darkness, it’s an ideal match. Trial by Chaos is the sound of a band that labored evening and day to dot each i, cross each t, and craft an impregnable loss of life-thrash assault. Extra plainly, though it goes a wee bit overboard, it’s one of the crucial enjoyable albums I’ve heard this yr. Raider has put me a day behind on my tax return, however I couldn’t have requested for a greater excuse.
Ranking: 4.0/5.0
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320kbps mp3
Label: Self-Launched
Web sites: raiderofficial.com | raiderofficial.bandcamp.com | fb.com/RaiderMetal
Releases Worldwide: April seventh, 2023