“The Return…” is sandwiched between the landmark “Bathory”
and the black metal classic “Under the Black”. As such, I always found that
“The Return…” seemed to be overlooked when it came to discussing the classics
of the era. It’s a shame really, as “The Return…” may not be as iconic as
wither of those albums, it is still a very good release nonetheless. Now, first
and foremost, although I enjoyed this album, it no way in shape or form was
better than its predecessor. Nor its successor either, but that’s another
review. However, by no means, am I insinuating that “The Return…” should be
overlooked. Far from it.
The music on “The Return…” is another slab of blackened
thrash centered around the themes of darkness and evil. The overall sound is a
bit more thrash oriented than “Bathory” but there’s still plenty of black metal
influence lurking within the music. The song structures, intense riffs and
sporadic solos show off the band’s ability to create a layered sound without
trying to become too overly complex. The bass on this album is a huge upgrade
as its presence is quickly noticed by way of your speaker vibrating though the
album. The production should also get a tip of the cap, as the overall sound is
less of a garage style recording, allowing the instruments to come together a
little more homogeneously instead of centering on one particular sound.
At the end of the day, “The Return…” should not be
overlooked when it comes to classic black metal or even thrash metal. I can’t
say that it is as memorable as Bathory’s other albums, but it’s still a solid
addition to their catalog. Fans of primal black and thrash will enjoy the album
for what it is, but I would suspect most will always point to other Bathory
albums when asked which to choose. All in all, still worth a listen.
Highlights: “The Wind of Mayhem” “Sadist (Tormentor)” “The
Return of Darkness and Evil”
Rating: 3.5
Rating: 3.5
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