Vader - Impressions in Blood
With Vader, you know exactly what you’re going to get – straight-up death metal. That’s indeed the case with Impressions in Blood
First is the drumming. “New” guy Daray has actually been on board since 2004’s The Beast
Second is the songwriting. Vader has always been fast and brutal, but only in recent years has the band started writing truly memorable songs. This is mostly due to more tempo variations, with less reliance on balls-to-the-wall blasting. There’s plenty of the latter here, to be sure, but there are also lots of midpaced sections that place the blasting parts in greater relief. “Predator” stays in half speed all the way through, and it’s heavy as fuck. The riffs are catchy, the songs are compact, and Peter’s vocals are as strong as ever. This is the sound of a well-oiled machine.
Third is the production. Vader’s production values have gone up over the years, culminating in the huge-sounding Art of War. This album retains the same clarity and separation between instruments. A few symphonic interludes scattered throughout add depth. The mastering is a bit hot and compressed for my taste, but the songs have enough dynamics so this isn’t a problem. Basically, if you liked The Art of War, you’ll love Impressions in Blood.
Vader – Warlords
Vader – Predator
There’s also a somewhat goofy video for “Helleluyah!!! (God Is Dead).” Those horns aren’t so becoming on Peter.
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This is easily Vader’s best work in ages, so pick it up
