The second album from Handle with Hate, this Barcelona band composed almost entirely of members of the legendary CAUSTIC, who appeared out of nowhere with a fantastic debut album in 2021, "Erebus Rises." Well, here they are with the continuation of that masterpiece, this time with "Wrath of the Keres," the wrath of the Keres, those female spirits of violent death from Greek mythology, which is undoubtedly the band's main theme.
Their music is a technical, crushing, direct, and brutal Death Metal, occasionally bordering on the classic Brutal Death of the 90s. Suffocation is a very strong influence, but there's more. It's not about blatantly copying them; Hate Eternal, some Deicide, even Sinister—they possess enviable technique and a crisp production where everything sounds top-notch, although perhaps a bit too crisp. Maybe it's just me who prefers a denser, darker sound, because there's nothing to criticize, especially the bass, which sounds amazing. Xavi displays virtuosity on the four strings, and Regius's vocals also seem more organic and polished than on their previous album; they definitely fit in better.
The eight tracks that make up the album, plus the intro, unfold one after another with a relentless barrage of rhythms that are pure enjoyment. The drums also stand out with a devastating punch—they sound fantastic! I think they've saved the best tracks for the beginning, because without a doubt, "Mesmer Eyes" and "Encefalopathos" are mind-blowing, the best for me. Then come a string of killer tracks leading to a slightly weaker but equally outstanding end to the album.
The cover art perfectly matches the title, showing the aforementioned Keres doing their thing. In short, it's an album that contains just the right amount of brutality, the touch of technique and virtuosity required of a band with the years of experience these veterans have with their instruments. You can tell they're not beginners. The album has been released once again by Base Records, so anyone wanting a copy will have no trouble finding it in their preferred format. This album is significantly above average, Death Metal steeped in its North American variant, with quality and good taste!
Sample: youtube.com/watch?v=onetFnzdmxI&t=490s
