Relentless supergroup Lock Up return with yet another blistering assault on already frayed nerves and over heightened senses. Their Fifth original full length is more of the insane Death/Grind/groove that does not rely on reputations alone but musical destruction.
Okay Superstars out of the way first.
Shane Embury (Bass) Anton Reisenegger (guitars), and Kevin Sharp retain vocals duties and shares them with the returning Tomas Lindberg whilst new bloke Adam Jarvis takes the level of percussion insanity to new levels flawlessly and effortlessly. Lock up have managed to avoid that whole side project tag with the sheer intensity of their albums and the energy that is released through them.
The idea of gang/dual vocals is perfect for death/grind and here its executed brilliantly. The aggression level is ridiculously high, “A Sinful Life Of Power”, “Nameless Death” and “Dead Legions’’ all hover around the two-minute mark, the messages short sharp and deadly intense, Get in Get out make sure everything you leave behind is battered and broken The recording is excellent, and captures the life and spirit of the band. “Death Itself, Brother of Sleep” is the electronic industrial moment you were expecting whilst Crucifixion of Distorted Existence is the epic step back yet still leaves you lingering over the abyss.
The Dregs of Hades is an album full of fire and hate. Whilst others hide their grind in mud Lock up glisten with sweat and steel. it is a taut tight, adventurous, and timeless work. A bloody huge juggernaut of an album that is everything you would demand from legendary extreme-music musicians.
Lock Up: Facebook
Release Year: 2021
Label: Listenable Records
Category: Album
Country: Greece
Reviewed by Sparky