REVIEW: Tortured Demon raise the bar on Rise of the Lifeless

Oldham thrashcore outfit Tortured Demon have really set the UK live circuit alight in recent years. Their first full-length, In Desperation's Grip, dropped in 2021, the same year that they notably packed out the smallest stage at Bloodstock before lunchtime, selling out all of their merch. After touring with Evile in 2022, their ascent seems unstoppable and inevitable, now with another string to their bow with Rise of the Lifeless.

Tortured Demon - Oppressed (live at Bloodstock 2021)

It's not a carbon copy of the first record. Tortured Demon have upped their game as musicians and songwriters, and the addition of a second guitarist has injected new life into the band. This is particularly evident over some of the choruses, where a counter-riff or Corey Beaulieu-style melodic lead seems to elevate its part to another level. Eyes of the Fire houses a series of fantastic diminished licks, and the solos in Global Threat, The Damage Is Done and the title track are outstanding.

It's still thrashy as fuck and they've not lost hold of their essence. Testament and Exodus seem to be clear influences in some of the leading songs from the record, with even Shogun-era Trivium ringing through Global Threat. I wonder if touring with Evile, who were promoting Hell Unleashed at the time, a relatively fast album (even for them), had a part to play in a song like Erase Your Life, which veers frantically into Pleasure to Kill-style thrash/death territory.

You could generally say that the album has the youthful spirit of thrash metal, but with some more modern influences too. Disfavour is home to a very cool off-time groovy breakdown that shows they're not just in it to appeal to the retro thrashers. This War Will Come To You is another example of their natural ability to lay down a solid groove, and some songs seem to utilise quite low tunings too. One of my favourite moments on In Desperation's Grip was the filthy beatdown at the end of Oppressed - and with the way my face involuntarily contorts every time the half-time groove drops in Virtual Death, I'd say my tastes have very much been satisfied on Album 2.

Their approach to writing often utilises dirtier verses and more anthemic, melodeath-inspired choruses. I hear the likes of Amon Amarth and Arch Enemy in the choruses of Virtual Death or Disfavour. The Damage Is Done, which closes the album, is a great example of how their material is maturing. The juxtaposition of flamenco guitars and chord structures with some nasty grooves and blastbeats is very well-executed.

Not that there's a lack of vocal melody - and his pitched snarl is excellent for carrying and elevating choruses - but I'd be interested to see what Jacob is capable of with a cleaner approach to vocals over certain melodic parts. To me, it seems that Trivium are amongst their direct influences for their more modern-sounding sections, who have stayed at the top in part through Matt Heafy's ability to carry a melodic hook while the band maintain their intensity. It would be interesting to see what more clean vocals could do for the band in the future, especially as their choruses tend to be more melodic. The Damage Is Done shows that TD can definitely do it!

The previous album did have melodic backing vocals, although these were led by Freddie Meaden, who's no longer in the band. This is absolutely not to say that the vocals are weaker or lesser this time around. Jacob has come on leaps and bounds in the last two years, sounding a much crisper and assured harsh vocalist here, delivering each refined vocal snarl with bags of confidence and attitude. The hard work put into his voice is commendable and this record may mark the point he begins to establish himself as a leading vocalist in thrash/modern metal. I'd now be interested to hear the results of the same graft going into some old school singing.

My pick of the bunch has to be the title track. The epic scene setter of An Empire Condemned segues into it, and from that point, it goes straight for your throat. Opening line 'Prepare for war... Here it comes!' is nothing less than iconic, a call to arms to ignite an endless sea of rabid mosh pits. Again, the guitar solo is fantastic, and the fists-in-the-air buildup is designed for the masses. Virtual Death is also very easy to come back to, and The Damage Is Done shows the tip of the iceberg of what they're capable of.

It's incredible that this is the first recorded material under the current lineup. Maybe it's not quite the finished product... yet. But to consider what might be around the corner is pretty tantalising.

It feels unfair to have come this far without mentioning the talents of Joe Parkinson, who puts in a hell of a shift behind the kit. He sounds more than comfortable at lightning-speed tempos, and totally self-assured laying down the groovier parts. The fills are excellent and he demonstrates a great deal of control throughout.

They're back on at Bloodstock this year, deservedly on a much bigger slot and stage than last time. It could, again, be amongst the most talked about sets of the festival.

The future's bright, but for now, give the album a go. It'll keep you coming back, if one thing's for sure.

Great work. 9/10

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MN