Triumph of Death - Resurrection of the Flesh (Live)
Noise Records, that visionary necromancer of metal archives, has devoted recent years to resurrecting some of the genre’s foremost releases through a campaign of well-curated re-issues. It was only a matter of time before the darkened anthems of Hellhammer would one day emerge from the crypts of time and stride boldly out into the blazing light of day; Resurrection of the Flesh now arrives, not merely as another live album, but as an artifact of roaring metal ecstasy for legions of aural extremists worldwide.
Hellhammer, the Swiss progenitors of extreme metal, erupted in the early 1980s as a raw and primal force, carving out the bedrock for what would become black and death metal. Formed by the legendary Thomas Gabriel Warrior, their brief but incendiary existence burned a luminous flame that has shone brightly throughout the ensuing decades. Forty-plus years later, the cosmic tumblers have finally clicked into place, giving us a new live document of those primordial anthems. Though Hellhammer bassist Martin Eric Ain (also of Celtic Frost) has passed, Warrior has conjured their band’s raging spirit with Triumph Of Death, his new outfit dedicated to the celebration of Hellhammer’s storied past. But Resurrection of the Flesh is more than a tribute; it's a startling eruption of fire and fury, bursting through the fabric of time, back through the seminal masterpieces of Hellhammer's immortal legacy.
Straight from the go, opening track The Third Of The Storms, loudly establishes that this isn't just a rehashing; it's a surging, multi-sensory spectacle where every scream, riff and devastating beat is a testament to the cosmic potency of extreme metal. The tracks span three incendiary live shows from 2023, including TOD’s appearances at the Hell’s Heroes Festival in Houston, the shadowy alcoves of Munich's Dark Easter Metal Meeting and the blasted heaths of Portugal’s SWR Barroselas Metal Fest. More than simply live versions of well-known songs, these performances are roaring storms of sound, embodied by the tempestuous squalls of Decapitator and the frenetic ecstasy of Maniac and Reaper. Special mention must also be given to the utterly transfixing rendition of Satanic Rites, with its blazing riffs and storming punk rock tempo. This is a spectral marathon that stretches its gnarled fingers across four wicked decades.
The band deliver a taut and searing showcase. Behind André Mathieu’s blistering riffs and the power-driven rhythm of bassist Jamie Lee Cussigh and drummer Tim Iso Way, these twelve tracks feel as vital and transgressive as they day they were recorded. And of course, every note pulsates with Warrior's visceral energy and his formidable skill, embodying a raw, visceral presence that pervades the entire album.
Extreme metal’s newer generation of fans would be hard-pressed to distinguish these magnificent tracks from anything released in the past year, such is the vitality of these performances. Resurrection Of The Flesh is a worthy tribute album to a band whose contributions to modern metal have too often been overlooked, as well as a monumental testament to a turbulent and triumphant legacy. Easily the best live metal album of 2023.