On a summer Saturday seven years ago, Bütcher smashed the stage of the Antwerp Metal Fest. I was there, watching this explosive band in awe. Instantly, I felt like I had missed something; fans were ecstatic, but this was all new to me. A conversation with the band’s singer later on reassured me that I hadn’t missed much, perhaps just a few demos, and that their debut album, Bestial Fükkin’ Warmachine, was ready to take the world by storm.
A few years later, after 666 Goats Carry My Chariot, the guys are now on their third full-length album, their second with Osmose Productions. A well deserved record label for a band that has become a staple in Belgian metal and has performed at Graspop Metal Meeting. Bütcher’s winning recipe: throw speed metal and old-school heavy metal into the mix, and serve it up with conviction and satanic flair on stage. This package comes complete with ripped shirts, blood, lots of leather, bones, and spikes. If you haven’t seen it yet, consider this your invitation to catch a Bütcher show.
Moving on to On Fowl of Tyrant Wing, on which the golden formula remains intact. Speed Metal Samurai is an instant hit: it’s impossible to keep your head still during this frenzied speed metal, perfect for live shows. Not only are the riffs sharp and in your face, but the melodies are top-notch with solid buildups and powerful solos. Tasty grooves on Blessed By The Blade, where vocalist Ruben (excuse me, now it’s R Hellshrieker) truly lives up to his name (Hellshrieker, that is, not Ruben). From Koraktor’s Iron Rule, you’ll notice that the band has a soft spot for Iron Maiden. It’s in their guitar interactions and melodies. It’s as if you’re listening to Maiden sped up, with intense, hellish vocals layered on top. And if it hasn’t been fast enough yet, get ready to loosen up your neck with Keep The Steele (Flamin’ Hot). It’s clear that Bütcher doesn’t do slow and keeps it all full throttle.
These Antwerp natives stick to their formula, but there are some slight deviations from the pattern. A Sacrifice To Satan’s Spawn leans more toward melodic heavy metal, showcasing a band that can really build up a song Maiden-style. There’s more emphasis on the guitar work here, without the ripping intensity found in the other tracks. A Gypsy’s Tale (Of Sex and Seance) is also quite the outlier. At the end, listeners are treated to an Arabic desert dance that transitions into a death metal mix, with heavier guitar parts and grunts that break away from the rest of the album.
Impressive work. Despite the occasional experiments, Bütcher remains consistently powerful and rock-solid on this latest release. Fans of hard-hitting speed metal should absolutely add this to their collection. Old-school vibes blend seamlessly with Antwerp metal craftsmanship.
Score:
85/100
Label:
Osmose Productions, 2023
Tracklisting:
- A Divine Wind
- Speed Metal Samurai
- Blessed By The Blade
- Koraktor’s Iron Rule
- Keep The Steele (Flamin’ Hot)
- A Sacrifice To Satan’s Spawn
- A Gypsy’s Tale (Of Sex and Seance)
- An Ending In Fyre
Line-up:
- KK Ripper – Guitar, bass
- R Hellshrieker – Vocal
- KV Bonecrusher – Guitar
- LV Speedhämmer – Drums
- Max Mayhem – Guitar
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