With a band name seemingly citing two other metal bands, these Finns only got together as TORMENTOR TYRANT in 2020. All three of them, however, have been present in the Finnish music scene for a long time, with drummer Juha Karjalainen (aka J. Carnage) and guitarist Sami Iivonen (or S. Envenom) formerly of Death Doomers CATALEPTIC and bass player Matti Mäkelä (now M. Malignant) still playing in the Death Metal outfit CORPSESSED. They are now presenting us their first full-length album. And what a piece of hate they delivered! In less than thirty minutes, nine songs crush the listener and make him think of all the forefathers who recorded at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida. Still, new bands keep creating a sound that was clearly inspired by bands like MORBID ANGEL, DEICIDE or MALEVOLENT CREATION – the name-dropping could go on but I’ll just stop here. TORMENTOR TYRANT play straightforward old school Death Metal without any special effects. The production is very clean and highlights excellent guitar work and vocals. The latter remind me a bit of of NAPALM DEATH’s Mark “Barney” Greenway; it is notable, however, that the bass player and guitarist share the singing. The lyrics are about the image of a recurring character called Tormentor Tyrant. Embedded in this concept are classic (extreme) Metal topics such as slavery and cruelty enforced by a brutal emperor (‘Capital Of Pain’, ‘Pit Of Anguish’) or criticism of capitalism (‘Crueler Tomorrow’). Whereas these songs already indicate parallels to our violent history and harsh modern world, the concept behind the lyrics is explained in the song ‘Terminal Revelation’: Tormentor Tyrant is a brutal ruler over a fictitious world that is somehow resembling our spheres. His character is a trinity whose elements cite the pseudonyms of the three band members (“Tormentor Tyrant is not one but three / Malignant Carnage will Envenom existence”). Other facets that appear in the songs are science fiction (‘Cosmic Wild Hunt’) and a celebration of the band itself in the song ‘Heavy Death Bombardment’, with an undercurrent of MOTÖRHEAD’s ‘Bomber’ in the lyrics. This band would certainly make a most valuable addition to the billing of Germany’s top extreme Metal festival Party.San Open Air. If you like your old school Death Metal American style and not blood-dripping, check ’em out! www.facebook.com/tormentortyrant, www.facebook.com/everlastingspew