Review by Tomek on February 12, 2018.

Carcass.

This was the first thing that popped in my head when the album started, so, naturally, I kept listening. My initial feeling quickly dispersed, and when the whole album ended I found Arch Enemy, In Flames and maybe some Disarmonia Mundi and Soilwork in there, too. Using set schemes and concepts, even putting your twist on it and releasing something that you can call your own is not the newest formula out there; taking what you consider the best bits out of your favorite bands, yet still moving against the coming current with the right proportions for your own concoction and creating something fresh and original – that is a feat that is different entirely. I think these guys come out victoriously from this challenge.

II – Interitus is a name that kind of points you in the direction of this being a second album by Nero Doctrine, but nothing is farther from the truth. These Germans created a new band (raised from the ashes of Dystopia, their previous project) and decided to play music that is diametrically opposed to the previous initiative. What we have here is their first release. Lots of influences are thrown together into this mixing pot, but there are also plenty of ingredients that they brought on their own. There is a big part of Swedish melodic death metal present here, but there is also a lot of thrash bits (the aggressive kind), some progressive leanings, and bunch of other stuff that Nero Doctrine figured to combine and do it in such a way that I am already looking forward to the next release.

What I like the most about this album is the diversity. Song after song, Nero Doctrine is relentlessly attacking the listener with amazingly constructed riffing of constantly busy guitars gushing a plethora of melodic lines. Every song has a few or more memorable melodies or hooks that are simply phenomenal and very 'sticky.' Those riffs and motifs stay in your head, and whenever you play the album you know exactly which song you are listening to. Drums are supported by the evident rumble of the bass, dominating with their energy and bursting with liveliness. There is also a ton of crunchy breakdowns and a lot of slow and heavy sections bringing even more variety and adding to the tempo changes. All this melody and catchiness is served without losing a bit of heaviness or any of the dynamic. After listening to this album numerous times, I am truly ecstatic about it.

Not everything is top notch and all taken care of on this album of course, but considering how much those guys got right on the first release I am not even going to start any complaints. The First album has the right to be a little 'off' in some places and to have some musical holes that needed to be filled, but all that is to be taken care of next time. At this point I can only recommend listening to this album and simply enjoying it.

Nero Doctrine came up with an excellent release, and if ‘III’ is going to be better than ‘II’ is, then it probably will be ‘I’ on the podium.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by Alex on October 9, 2019.

Polish melodic death metal band Warbell makes aware their presence with the chime of the bands second full-length effort Plague. It's modern melodic death metal, hence it took some convincing before I could even summon the thought of even looking at the cover artwork; I decided to give this one a chance despite my aging impatience with the disgraced sub-genre of melodic-death, and for what is represented here on Plague I was surprised I even made it through the record without nodding away before the inception of the 2 track, and even going as far as having a repeated listen. As a whole Warbell sound like an echo somewhere between Aetherian, Insomnium and Duskmourn (minus the folk elements); heavily driven by contrasting tempos and purposeful guitar work reminding me of when I first heard a band like Insomnium. A few good memories, though most of what the sub-genre resembles is a mockery of early 90s melodic death metal. I'm glad to have been awoken to the ringing of Warbell.

Two fists go to battle on Plague, that of pessimism and optimism; one forever reminding you of your faults, sins, regrets and the approaching end; the other compelling you to cast aside dejection and embrace a new beginning. The latter is easier said than done thus Warbell make it evident through ‘Dualmind’ and ‘Every Storm’ (to name some examples); sometimes a mighty adrenaline shot of courage, other times a soaking wet blanket of despondent reflection and enfeeblement. These two primary forces go head-to-head on each track among also present references of mankind’s inferiority and ignorance, altogether making Plague a record worth the listen, though significantly shorter than their debut Havoc by 17 minutes or so, the members drive across the desired effect with precision every time. Not too despondent, not too aggressive; steady hands manipulate the energies emitted on Plague.

Marcin and Piotr lay down great guitar solos and leads, most of which is the least appealing and gives each track an identity to remember it by; barely any filler to be heard, hence you don't encounter directionless music. Karolina's vocals are some of the better I’ve heard by a female in the melodic death metal sub-genre compared to the laziness of Arch Enemy’s front woman that the unfortunate masses praise. She translates emotions of agony and despair through her deep growls that at times may carry a blackened snare of undertones. Paweł handles the bass along with some supporting vocals on the record aligned with Rafal’s well timed drumming, moving between metalcore, thrash and melodic death metal. Noticeable is the effect of teamwork on Plague; the momentum is kept and there is never an instance which sounds like one member is the driving force behind the music, every hand carries some weight. ‘The Fallen’, ‘Flames of Truth’, ’Wolfpack’ and ‘The Passenger’ act as key moments on Plague in linking many segments thus, ensuring the targeted goal is reached, that being cohesion.

Though melodic death metal has not been in the best of shape by a longshot for some time now, its bands like Warbell that provide some hope the genre still has a shot at relevance. Give Plague a listen, perhaps there is something there for ears weary of cheered mediocrity.

Rating: 8 out of 10