Vader – Iron Times (Nuclear Blast)

Genre: Death Metal

While Behemoth might make the headlines these days, Polish death metal has always had a reliable standard bearer in Vader.

This band have consistently delivered the goods over more than three decades – and if Iron Times is a taste of what’s in store on their next album, The Empire, we’re in for a treat.

Kicking off with the raw, thrashy Parabellum, this EP is a snapshot of all that’s good about Vader: dynamic rhythms, sharp musicianship, Piotr Wiwczarek’s fierce growl… and an incredible knack for writing devastating, catchy death metal.

Prayer To The God Of War, Iron Times’ other new track, is short and sweet,  a lethal burst of rapid fire DM, while you can also get your teeth into a cover of Piesc I Stal by Panzer X (a Wiwczarek side project) and a phenomenal version of  the Motörhead classic, Overkill, where drummer James Stewart fires up the kick drums a la Mikkey Dee, and those adrenaline fuelled riffs wreak total havoc.

Iron Times has whetted our appetite: now let’s see what The Empire can do…

RUSHONROCK RATED: 8/10 Spearhead