One of my favourite things to do is to follow the line-ups of phenomenal bands, in this scenario TRENCHANT was on my radar due to two members being from IMPRECATION! Over time you come to trust certain musicians with their output and vision so simply keeping an eye out on who’s in the band currently opens doors to various new projects which you’d not notice otherwise. I noticed IMPRECATION’s 2019 split had a new guitarist (Nick Norris) and then I realized he already had a project with the bassist Jeff Tandy. They had an EP released then (check that out too!). Coming to TRENCHANT’s first full length on Godz Ov War Productions, the personnel involved does not disappoint. “Commandoccult” is a good quality Black / Death album that is as relentless as it is focussed. I knew even before playing the first track for the first time for this review that this release will be something special and I’m glad I was not wrong. TRENCHANT operates as a brute force attack at every moment, the rhythm section is a barbaric moshpit forever twirling! The opener also has Bob Vigna, who contributes a guest solo (I saw him a couple of weeks back here in Toronto and they kicked ass!). The album does not have a dull moment, normally I’m not too fond of machine gun drumming but with TRENCHANT it just blends in with the spirit of the atmosphere. Relentless riffs, spell casting vocals and unforgiving drumming make “Commandoccult” a delight, all I can say is just hit play! TRENCHANT have put out a brilliant album for your consideration and I’d ask fans of all genres to play this and preferably purchase it without a second thought. For more information please visit: https://commandoccult.bandcamp.com, www.facebook.com/godzovwar

When three lost souls in Texas gather for invoking spirits of the undead in a hot and humid night, horrible things happen. This trio of wisdom and melody is composed by veterans in the scene coming from bands like MORBOSIDAD, IMPRECATION, AVERSE SEFIRA and Mexico’s MORTUARY just to name a few. The end result is some of the best Death / Black Metal in this hellish lands in the early MORBID ANGEL vein with some TERRORIZER touches and many Thrash and Speed Metal references, making this a riff orgy of Death with that old skull sound only old Metalheads can conjure. The drumming courtesy of Aldo is magnificent, he is really a very accomplished skins man adding to that the killer riffs and vocals of Nick and the thunderous pulse of Jeff and you got another devastating blow of Texas blackened Metal of Death. The riffs sound like early SLAYER on steroids and let me tell you that this band sounds killer when playing at high speed. The eerie sense of melody of their songs reminds me at times of what IMMORTAL was doing in “At The Heart Of Winter” with some great old school Thrash attack, but in a more extreme way. Simple and direct riffs, yet well done and with a sense of musicianship that only the years of experience can get. At times they are in a MERCILESS mode and then your body is trapped in a dark SARCÓFAGO. And then Bob Vigna of mighty IMMOLATION does some guest solos… Also included is a killer cover from Norway’s MOLESTED. Do you really need any more signs to get this killer piece? https://commandoccult.bandcamp.com, www.facebook.com/godzovwar