Hell's Headbangers - 2025
8.5/10
As it turns out, Brazil's Whipstriker have been around for nearly two decades, with most of the original band members still intact. Yet, they wouldn't come across my radar until the year of our lord 2025, with the release of their fifth full-length, Cry Of Extinction. Perhaps it has something to do with a large gap between releases, as the most recent one dropped in 2018, having consistent releases up until that point. Their career seems to have been largely defined by speed and heavy metal assaults airing on the more brash end of things, with the latest outing stressing greater emphasis on that latter point.
In fact, my first spin of this record gave me feelings teetering in the black metal camp, less in line with the shrieking pummels of late in exchange for a modernized first-wave coating. While an emphasis on equal parts speed and melody remain apparent, an uptick in harsh ferocity is found in the vocals, paired with an even meaner tone and an atmosphere dirtier than your divorced uncle's magazine collection. Perhaps that's not the most original approach these days, but it all boils down to making it sound like a brand of your own. This is achieved by avoiding breakneck speeds to carry everything in favor of the aforementioned elements, with perhaps just the right amount of vocal sleaze.
Essentially, Cry Of Extinction finds its strength in the songs that lean in the opposite direction of aimless speed. "Six-Eyes Crow Division" was an instant favorite, as it retains every bit of this angst and harsh belts while delivering a stomp that holds loads of rhythm, and even some cleaner leads that rise above the mix. "WWVI" hones in on a similar note, adding extra flavors to the bounce that could come close to a filthy doom tune. Closer "Military Scum" however is probably the more obvious standout, being a fuming monster of an epic coming in at ten minutes to see us off; maybe it's a bit clunky at times, though one could argue that it adds to the charm in this context. Cracks are filled in with the less intricate speed bangers that Whipstriker have crafted themselves around, found in the likes of "Heartrippers" and "Rush Of Fury," satisfying the urge to fly down the proverbial fretboard highway. Hell, the former even taps into its inner Bathory for an extra reverb as a topping.
Though it isn't anything groundbreaking, Cry Of Extinction was the first album of the year to truly capture my attention and force my ear into repeat listens. There's a fantastic balance found in the rawness and recklessness that still hides stability at least somewhere, usually in plain sight. Tunes that dial back speed in exchange for heat are my favorites. Fans of Venom, Negative Plane, or The Gauntlet will feel right at home here.
