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With the demise
of Atomkraft back in 1989 guitarist Rob Redhead returned to academia and
got honours in graphic design and illustration before spending the rest of
the 1990’s travelling. In 2003 Rob decided to give the music
business another try and after relocating to the Scottish borders he met
up with vocalist Allan Scott, the two then set about bringing the world
Agankast.
This the bands
debut release brings together Redheads vast experience of playing with
such bands as Venom, Slayer and Testament, and puts them into a big
melting pot. The resulting sound is what Agankast are all about, no
nonsense down to earth metal with Redhead at the helm with his soaring
guitars and backed by Scott’s menacing vocals and pounding bass.
Also along for the ride are drummer Drew Gill and second guitarist Ciaran
Wright.
The album opens
up with a metal onslaught in the form of ‘Reign Of Terror’ and from the
off the style and method of the band is laid out for the whole world to
comprehend. The mix of thrash guitars and Scott’s growling vocals
will have the metal heads among you drooling at the metal fest that is
Agankast.
The album
doesn’t relinquish any of its toxic metal sound as the anthemic ‘More
Meat’ spews out from the speakers.
There is just a
break from the metal on the intro on ‘Slave’ as the band show its gentler
side, but this soon breaks away into another piece of rampaging metal with
Redheads guitars shining through.
The title track
‘Welcome To Insanitarium’ starts off as if it's an instrumental track with
some of the best guitars on the entire album, but then the vocals
eventually come in and I think spoil what could have be a massive track as
just left as an instrumental.
Another big
track is ‘Within Darkness’, a track that has all the trademark metal
influences behind it the soaring Slayer guitars and the rasping Venom
style vocals.
The band delve
into the Scottish history books for inspiration telling the story of the
battle of Bannockburn with ‘The Battle Of Bannockburn’, a track that will
have the Saltire’s flying high.
Another track
that highlights Redhead’s prowess as a guitar player is ‘Before The
Storm’. The album closes as it began with a rampaging metal feast as
guitars, bass and drums united with Scott’s vocals bringing the metal tour
de force that is Agankast to the masses on ‘Gods Of Total War’.
The band have
recently had a few line up changes since I was sent this review but the
nucleus of the band Redhead and Scott still remain. What with the
band appearing at this years Bloodstock festival I think on the strength
of this album they will go down well. |
