Review by Felix on August 14, 2021.

My grandmother gave birth to my mother. My mother gifted me with life. Okay, that's probably not entirely surprising. But somehow you have to start a review of an album called Give Us Life.

Space Chaser present their third full disc. Since the split with the meanwhile renegade Dutchmen of Distillator, not much has changed in terms of style. The gentlemen play thrash with a technical touch, without putting the technique above the flow of the individual songs. Nevertheless, the one or other track goes down the drain. The opener is acceptable, but completely unspectacular. It can't justify its prominent position in any way, since it lacks outstanding riffs and effective hooks. 'Antidote To Order' tends towards total failure, but fortunately this is the exception to the rule. For the majority of the time, clean, well-structured thrash is offered here, which does not lack musical substance. Individual parts and songs stand out. 'Cryoshock', for example, starts extremely promising and indeed develops into one of the highlights of the album.

In the review of the split I wrote that singer Siegfried sounds like the younger brother of Overkill's Bobby. That's still true - but it's starting to get on my nerves. These are vocals that don't really fit well on an almost pure thrash record. This is especially true when Siegfried lets Iron Angel's Dirk Schröder shine through in between - but unfortunately only the Schröder in poser mode of "Winds Of War". The partly half-baked vocal melodies, as far as one can speak of them, cost the album some plus points. This is especially true because Siegfried's voice also sounds quite thin (in the high pitches) or pressed on more occasions. Nothing against the gentleman personally, but I think singing and music style just don't fit together here in the long run. He simply lacks the necessary rough organ. Thus, tracks like 'The Immortals' with its arrow-fast guitars unfortunately do not unfold the maximum effect.

After all: Space Chaser mix modern and (fortunately mostly) traditional elements of the style in a mostly competent way. Not only a song like 'Burn Them All' would suit many competitors well. 'Juggernaut' can rely on its sharp riff, and the comparatively overlong closer shines with surprising twists and turns. The band doesn't lack dynamics and energy either, and I don't want to deny the personal integrity of any of the musicians. The clear, modern and direct sound additionally protects the listener from unpleasant surprises regarding the staging of the songs.

Nevertheless, a slightly bland aftertaste remains. More would have been possible on Give Us Life. But that's just my opinion. Everyone is right here, who wants to get his thrash served similar to an Overkill or Anthrax song (at "Spreading The Disease" times). All others will mainly enjoy the parts of the disc where Space Chaser increase tempo and intensity. Otherwise, there is nothing to say. Or wait, one more thing: I hope my daughter gives birth to a child someday and makes me a proud grandpa.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Review by Michael on July 3, 2021.

Sci-fi crossover thrashers Space Chaser from the German capital are back on the intergalactic metal stage with their third album Give Us Life. First of all, it should be noted that the quintet has found a new home planet called Metal Blade Records, which is guaranteed to make them more known (and possibly popular) than they have been until now.

Apart from that, the cover style of the guys has changed significantly. While the first two albums were more in comic style, here you can find a really lovingly designed cover, which reminds you of a mixture of Star Trek and Terminator. The cover was designed by Mario Lopez, who was also responsible for cover designs of Evil Invaders, Them, Killing or Skeletal Remains.

Musically the guys around singer Siegfried walk on similar paths as on the two previous albums. However, I have the impression that the playfulness has given way to a certain seriousness and also greater independence. While there were many Slayer and Iron Maiden influences on the previous albums (not least because of Siegfried's Bruce Dickinson-like voice), I feel that Space Chaser are playing more brutal than before. Amount of guitar solos have been reduced significantly and the riffing reminds of death metal in places (just listen to 'The Immortals'). Space Chaser can't deny their roots and the first lines of Give Us Life should be sung along with the lyrics of Slayer's "Postmortem", I'm pretty sure that fits very well. Besides the two already mentioned songs, other outstanding tracks are 'Antidote To Order', a fast song with cool gang shouts and brutal riffing, 'Remnants Of Technology' which is a thrash wrecking ball (be sure to check the video for it, very cool design, you feel like a guest on Mos Eisley) and also 'A.O.A.' knows how to convince with its brutality. 'Burn Them All' starts quite cross-over-like, but in the further course of the playing time it turns into a very melodic track with cross-references to old Megadeth, ("Rust In Peace" sends its regards - thematically it fits wonderfully).

Lyrically, the album is about dystopian fantasies, mixed with theories of Carl Sagan, Dyson spheres ('Dark Descent') or deadly sci-fi weapons ('Juggernaut'). This all sounds very interesting, I'm curious to read the lyrics soon.

Give Us Life is produced with much more powerful sound than the two previous albums and will leave no thrasher's ear disappointed. The whole thing was produced by Jan Oberg at Hidden Planet in Berlin, together with Space Chasers drummer Matthias Scheurer and guitarist Leo Schacht. The final polish was done by none other than Dan Swanö.

The Berliners have composed a very strong album, which comes across very entertaining and its unfortunate that it ends in just under 40 minutes. I think that with this album and the help of their new (bigger) label Space Chaser will make themselves heard. I can only recommend everyone who likes thrash metal to listen to this album as for me it is one of the thrash highlights of 2021 right next to the new Killing.

May the Force be with you - The truth is out there!!!

Rating: 8.9 out of 10 Baby Yodas

Review by Felix on March 26, 2025.

Yesterday I bought a ticket for a train ride. Destination: Satan's kingdom. My train attendants were four bad-tempered Brits who called themselves Heathen Deity. And why not? Just let the journey begin.

Right from the get-go, the locomotive lets off a lot of steam. After the solid intro comes "Embrace The Essence Of Satan – Ephesians 6:66" and delivers pure violence pressed into three minutes. Soot particles settle on the faces, everything looks dark and dirty. This is the way I like to travel by train, and I start to think that my train attendants do their job very well (even though they look a bit menacing). High velocity seems to be guaranteed on the way to the devil. By the way, I also realize that the production of this train is amazingly well done. Everything is set into the right frame, all elements are well-balanced to each other and in spite of the fact that there is almost no dirt (with the exception of the soot particles), the atmosphere in this dignified yet ironclad train is anything but sterile. I like it a lot.

The next stations with pretty bizarre names like "The Swine Lead The Swine" increase my enjoyment of the trip. Everything is performed with passion, power and competence. All looks and sounds coherent in this train and due to whatever reasons, it makes me think of bands such as Dark Funeral. Especially "F**king Worthless" makes my day due to its mid-tempo approach which seems to lend the train more flexibility. Nevertheless, it moves relentlessly along its tracks and does not deviate a millimetre from the predetermined route. Thus, it generates a truly devilish feeling. Fantastic journey so far!

The more I concentrate on the train attendants, the more I think I have seen them before. They built a monument of "True English Black Metal". Its first half was gigantic, but the second half lacked density and strength. This time this cannot happen, I am sure. But exactly as we leave "F**king Worthless" and the second part of the route begins, the locomotive derails. F**king worthless shit! We have to wait in a "Chapel Of Filth" (this title reminds me of something British… what the hell was it? I must ask Dani tomorrow). One guy of the English quartet shows how deep he can sing. It's impressive, but also soporific. Another dude plays acoustic guitar, while the others just stand around and do nothing. This weak number has nothing in common with the energy of the trip so far. Even worse, as the journey continues, I realise that the train is somehow worse on the tracks than before. Especially at the eighth station things go complete wrong. Here it is as dull as an instrumental on a black metal disc, offering nothing but gentle, almost dreamy guitar sounds. Nobody needs that, do they? Even the best part of the second half called "The Son Of Obscurity" spreads some tragic vibes, most likely in view of its feeble surrounding. However, it houses raging elements as well as and is as fine as the first part of the route.

As I get off after the last two acceptable but not earth-shattering stops and wonder where Mr Satan's realm is supposed to be here, I look at the timetable again. Damn, I've travelled too far – I should have got off at station four. No wonder I didn't really like the last stations of the journey. Normally I only give two ratings for splits, but here the overall judgement has to be differentiated: 85% for the first and 65% for the relatively weak second part of the journey. By the way, where are the four Brits? If I come across them a third time, which of course I would like to do, I hope to have an unadulterated, joyful experience with them.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Review by Jeger on December 6, 2024.

From the depths of His Infernal kingdom have UK's Heathen Deity emerged once more; offering benefactions of Diabolism's bounty. Black metal for the admonition of all that is holy and for the heralding of His blood red majestic throne. Great Daemons of the pit in danse to the diabolical symphony of true English black metal on this eve of Satanic reign. Let the unholy fanfare commence! For on this day, the pride of UKBM, Heathen Deity, have unveiled their sophomore LP, Satan's Kingdom, via the prestigious Cult Never Dies.

There's been much celebration to commemorate this album release, and from what I can hear, it is well deserved. Satan's Kingdom is no throwback to second wave legacy, but a contemporary work of dynamic yet dignified sensibilities. Satanic to its core and radiating His warm ecstatic energy through hearts impassioned as the titular track unfolds with raged melodicism - fevered and streamlined - tremolo riffs and blasts coursing over you at an inertia-inducing pace before gentle acoustics signal epic passages to come. An ode to the austerity of His Infernal Majesty and to His sovereignty o'er Hell and Earth. And it only gets better from here… The following track, 'Fucking Worthless' - a succulent mid-tempo'd dirge set to martial rhythms and forgivingly accessible riffing patterns that roll and soothe you into a gnostic state - ghastly vocalizations to wring your innards into knots. On a sole plateau of their own are Heathen Deity; outclassed by few and celebrated by many.

Blessed alternations between surging distortion and dreamlike acoustics keep you on abyss's edge for the duration of this album as you find yourself at the mercy of every unpredictable shift in tempo during gluttonous tracks like 'The Son Of Obscurity' that pack your gullet full of every element of genre-defining substance you can think of from ensnaring melodies to blast-founded scales and serpentine double-bass currents. An opus! Makes you wonder why this band hasn't released more albums, but such is oft the way within the realm of black metal: cult-like obscurity and a sense of intangibility beholden to only the truest of black metal collectives.

Satan's Kingdom sees Heathen Deity at their apex, and what a monumental acquisition for Cult Never Dies - a blood pact between two proud enterprising black metal conglomerates whose collective vision for the genre is one of integrity and prestige. A veteran's eye for genuine talent has Dayal Patterson whose ventures have proven fruitful to say the least, and bands like Heathen Deity carry the torch for genre trueness. An epic for the ages, a long-awaited grande affair and a sonic conduit for the power of Satan. Let it have its way now as you fall under His sway on this night of royal Satanic revelry. And may his kingdom reign forevermore…

Rating: 9.5 out of 10