Retador “Earëndel”
Earëndel will be released on all physical & digital formats on January 21st via Xtreem Music
Modern thrash has evolved to incorporate the brutality, melody, and technicality of other metal genres while keeping its core rebel attitude and speed intact. However, the modern take on thrash can suffer when songs are over bloated with ideas, when there is way too much soloing, and when the band is simply trying to win the “look how fast I can play this” game. What’s more impressive (in my opinion) is when a modern thrash band can compose catchy ferocious songs that have dynamics and technicality without compromising the genre’s roots; aka controlled chaos.
Retador from Andalusia, Spain shine bright on their sophomore album Earëndel, striking that all so desired balance for controlled chaos. As you listen to the album you can hear clear nods to traditional thrash bands like Kreator, Speultura, and Sacrifice, in addition to sparks of influence from Decapitated, Death, and even Judas Priest. All this to say that we are in for a very eclectic ride; depicted colorfully on the cover by Venezuelan dark artist Jhon Quevedo Janssens.
Kicking off the album is the self titled track “Earëndel” which leans on the thrash & heavy metal side. Retador incorporates an ominous clean guitar tone with chanting atmospherics, to snap us into a mood that is ever present when listening to the album, before melodically building into the opening sweeping riff solo. As the old school mid tempo riffs chug along, Jofre’s commanding raspy harsh vocals cut through. His displays of mid to high ranges are impressively consistent and ravenous; a hybrid that is appropriately compared to Mille Petrozza (Kreator) & Max Cavalera (Sepultura). I should also mention that all of Retador’s lyrics are in Spanish which makes the delivery and cadence of Jofre’s singing more distinct to the region. The rest of the song continues its traditional 80’s vibe while playing around with more complex cymbal work and additional tasteful solos. This sort of thrash & heavy metal mix is also present in “Lux Ferre”, a poignant song about asking God for forgiveness for not being a perfect son and instead ending up being the damned rebellious son. I hear much more Judas Priest in the main riffs and drumming style on this song, however the structure and vocal cadence are still firmly rooted in thrash. There are also two unexpected breakdowns in the middle and end that sound more melodic death inspired and open up the opportunity for yet more tasteful soloing. Overall, these songs are catchy but don’t fly off the handles and are best interpreted as fun palate cleansers for the ferocity in between.
Take the track “Somos Eternos” which has the most intense opening and speed of the album. The vortex of thrash that is created by the main riff will immediately have you moving and probably want to mosh with the first person you see; an undeniable banger. The intensity is increased by the all too effective group chants and higher belted vocals for the key lyrics in the chorus. Then as if the song wasn’t heavy enough, we are treated with what I can only describe as a Decapitated style breakdown. The composition of the song, intensity, and dynamic movements create a sense of anticipation and anger. “Redes,” a rageful commentary about social media obsession and brainwashing, showcases even more creativity and aggression by incorporating an Exodus-like bounce, multiple Sepultura styled onslaughts, and an Undeath drumming groove that will give you a stank face. The most ferocious song on the album that follows the same death thrash mix is the single titled “Asesino;” which evokes an adrenaline shot fight for your life. A word on the rhythm section here. The bass tones used throughout the album are thick & twangy, reminding me of the iconic early Anthrax records, and add an additional old school dimension to the overall sound of Retador. The drumming by Juan Jolocaust, is truly a standout here since it sits in a creative pocket that is hard to describe and emulate. The bands that I make reference to span the gamut and have unique nuances which on paper may not make sense to mix together; however Juan pulls it off without a hitch.
As soon as you press play on the record, one immediately notices the production value; an improvement from their 2022 self-titled debut. Recorded at Moontower Studios (Spain) and mastered by the accomplished Dan Swanö at Unisound Studios (Sweden), each instrument has its time to shine without getting buried in the mix. As a thrash album, we care most about the riffs and how they sound. Rest assured that the dual guitar work is crisp and well mixed while the melodic solos shine without overpowering the rest of the instruments.
In the vast world of thrash, Retador have found their formula to creating high quality hard hitting songs that will appeal to newer fans and appeal to some older fans. Their magic is in their creative compositions which not only make the album flow very well but also leave no room for filler tracks. It is rare that every song on an album delivers the goods so when you do, like in the case of “Earëndel,” one should keep their eyes and ears open to the band that produced it.
SCORE: 4.5 / 5
FFO: Crisix, Kreator, Sepultura
You can pre-order your digital copy on Xtreem Music’s Bandcamp today.
