Satan’s Host : By the Hands of the Devil
by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer
Long running, devil worshipping, American heavy metal crew Satan’s Host is back with a new album entitled By the Hands of the Devil. It’s the band’s seventh studio offering, and it’s generating a fair amount of buzz, due in large part to the return of original vocalist Harry “Tyrant” Conklin (of Jag Panzer fame), who hasn’t appeared on a Satan’s Host album since the band’s cult classic 1986 debut Metal From Hell. The band has been active since that time of course, but Conklin’s return gives the band a real boost.
As soon as the blistering title track kicks in, you know you’re in for something special. The band had been going in a more straightforward black/death direction in Conklin’s absence, but now that he’s back their sound has taken a very Mercyful Fate-inspired turn to take full advantage of his considerable vocal talents. The blastbeats and neck-snapping speed metal riffing are still there; they’re just accompanied by a powerful voice that runs the gamut from soaring, powerful wails to piercing screams to mournful intonations and even a good, solid death metal growl on occasion. Honestly, Conklin’s performance alone is more than enough reason to buy the album, but it doesn’t hurt that By the Hands of the Devil has high caliber musicianship, impressive production, well-written songs and a truly wicked cover image. And while the lyrics are suitably demonic, compared to the utter blasphemy of the average Norwegian black metal band, Satan’s Host’s brand of devil worship seems a bit contrived and almost quaint.
It seems pointless to list the album’s best songs when they all kick ass like this, but if you’re looking to sample the album’s better moments “By the Hands of the Devil,” “Bleeding Hearts of the Damned” and “Fallen Angel” ought to me more than enough to seal the deal. And the band’s sinister rendition of the Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood” is a fantastic way to close the album.
If you’re one of the few die-hard fans who remember Satan’s Host from their early days, hearing By the Hand of the Devil for the first time will be like rediscovering an old flame. If you missed the band the first time around (and you’re in good company) and have been digging the resurgence of classic sounding, evil natured heavy metal that Ghost, Portrait and In Solitude, you’ll want to add Satan’s Host to your sinister playlists as soon as possible.
Genre: Heavy Metal
Band:
Marcus Garcia (b)
Anthony Lopez (d)
Patrick Evil (g)
Harry Conklin (v)
Track Listing:
1. By the Hands of the Devil
2. Shades of the Unlight
3. Demontia
4. Before the Flame
5. Bleeding Hearts of the Damned
6. Black Hilted Knife
7. Revival
8. Fallen Angel
9. Inferior Worlds
10. Norwegian Wood
Label: Moribund Cult
Website: http://www.satanshost.com/
Hardrock Haven rating: 8.75/10