The legendary (well, at least in the death metal circles) Nunslaughter have been taking their sweet time lately. It’s been seven years since the band saw fit to unleash a full album upon the world. That’s not to say that Nunslaughter hasn’t kept busy (view their discography with singles, live albums, and splits included and prepare to be wowed), but as we all know, there’s just something special about a full-length that makes all of the smaller stuff (usually) pale in comparison. Fans of the band are in luck though, as they have decided to create a double-album here, with Angelic Dread comprising the first, and a re-recorded collection of songs that have appeared exclusively on 7” vinyl over the years, giving almost 70 minutes of Nunslaughter to bathe in.
There really can’t be one person out there that expected significant changes from the Nunslaughter camp after their lengthy time in the scene. Nunslaughter do what they do best on Angelic Dread and that’s that. Songs average in the one-to-three-minute range with the combination of some punk attitude, thrash, and death metal that is to be expected. In comparison to the number of bands trying to sound like this, Nunslaughter’s approach has that genuine vibe that just cannot be recreated. Dirty, filthy death metal that’s never at a loss for a headbanging moment. The only issue that comes up is if you plan on listening to both albums at once, as the length is just a bit too much and things start to sound very similar. But hey, that’s why it’s a double cd: choose one, listen, and enjoy!
If you like Nunslaughter, you’ll eat this up, if you don’t this one isn’t going to change your mind. There is some nobility to be had with Nunslaughter’s knack to churn out consistently enjoyable material. The band is pushing towards the 30-year mark at this point. How many other death metal bands can say that, and have a solid discography to back it up?