Look, let’s just talk metalhead to metalhead here shall we? This album is an absolute rager and nothing in printed form can prepare your ears for the assault that will hit them when you press play on the new record from Poland’s Decapitated. The album is called Anticult (Nuclear Blast), and it is probably the best pure metal album since Lamb Of God’s Sacrament (Epic/Prosthetic) in 2006.

Right from the off the band show how at ease they are at what is pretty much a new sound for them. There were hints of this kind of songwriting on the previous record Blood Mantra (also Nuclear Blast), but here the sheer ease with which Decapitated shift from groove-laden slabs of thick textured riffs to the more technical nods to their past is amazing.

Songs like ‘Kill This Cult’ and ‘Earth Scar’ are awash with more raw and intense anger than has ever been present in any of the band’s previous albums. ‘Kill This Cult’ is the standout song on show here and the sheer ferocity of it makes the song hard to ignore, it opens with a catchy Thrash Metal riff that is carried along by the insane drumming of Michał Łysejko, the middle of the song has a quick nod to the Death Metal of earlier records then it’s back to one of the truly great solo’s from lead guitarist Vogg.

It’s worth mentioning the vocals, too, that could be overlooked amidst the complex riffs and song structures engulfing the songs, but it’s a stellar job by frontman Rafał “Rasta” Piotrowski as he sounds like Roots (Roadrunner) era Max Cavalera, spewing venom and pissed off aggression.

‘Deathvaluation’ showcases more and more of the technicality that we have come to almost take for granted with Decapitated, but there is also some melody thrown in here and there with little leads complementing the heaviness expertly. Another stellar solo from Vogg adds so much as he continues to elevate every track.

Whether the bands die hard fans get on board with this new direction remains to be seen, but what it is clear is that the band are shooting much further than they have ever done before. This is Decapitated laying their claim to the metal throne. This is Decapitated attempting to crush every other band out there. This is Decapitated grabbing your by the ear and the throat, and saying we are here to stay. I’d say remember where you were when you first heard this. It’s a classic.

9.5/10

KIERAN MITCHELL