antiMusic.com: Terror Universal - Make Them Bleed Review

Terror Universal - Make Them Bleed

by Kevin Wierzbicki

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The ghoulish masks worn by members of Terror Universal add to the darkness found in their music but the band has been around for a few years now and it's relatively common knowledge that vocalist Plague, drummer Massacre, guitarist Thrax and bass man Diabolus are indeed former members of Soulfly, Ill Nino, Machine Head and Upon a Burning Body. And their music is as heavy as their resume. The band's sound has at its core a rattling thrash that Plague scream-sings to, but the band is a big cut above those that do nothing but bash it out as loud as they can. "Through the Mirrors," for example, also features "clean" vocals from Plague along with a melodic chorus that gives the anti-love song a radio-ready vibe that would also be right at home on the soundtrack to a horror movie. There are lots of keyboard parts in the set too; synthesized orchestration opens "Dig You a Hole," the keys are set to electro for the intro of the throbbing "Spines" and "Into Darkness" begins with a bit of proggy synth work that sounds like something you'd find in Rick Wakeman's riff bag. Make no mistake, just because Terror Universal adds flavor to their music doesn't mean they dampen the metal here; one listen to the run-like-hell-through-the-graveyard banging of "Your Time Has Come" will convince you of that. In fact, be forewarned; the album title Make Them Bleed may just be talking about your ears. Order now as a digital download, CD and vinyl here

Terror Universal - Make Them Bleed
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