Review by Felix on November 21, 2025.

Ominous, steely, and slowly approaching—that's how the first notes of "In Shadows Deep" sound, the absolutely best song of Mezzrow's third album. Okay, it's certainly dramaturgically amateurish to start the review with the most outstanding track. But what can you do when you simply can't escape the impact of a song? "In Shadows Deep" has everything (except high speed) that a hit needs. A lot of tension, a very robust inner strength and catchy lines that drag the listener more and more into the sick mind of Jack the Ripper. It feels as if the band builds up layer upon layer until the density of the song can hardly be increased any further. The concise but poignant text by Ulf Petterson rounds off the piece excellently. (The only pity is that they seemingly disbanded four lines of the lyrics during the recordings – they are printed in the booklet, but Petterson does not sing them. I feel big phantom pain!) In a nutshell, "In Shadows Deep" shines as a more or less perfect song – at any rate, if I assume that it will stand the test of time. My metal instinct says it will.

Maybe now you fear that "Embrace The Awakening" lacks high velocity, but don't worry. Dive into "Sleeping Cataclysm" and you will see that there is nothing and nobody that sleeps. The song blows from the speakers with power and might. High velocity meets dynamic as well as precision and everything results in a flawless flow. This track has the ferocity of some of the best and fastest Exumer numbers and proves that Mezzrow do not shy away from absolutely non-compromising thrash. But, thank God, it is thrash without any infantile elements or a lousy neon-coloured artwork. Okay, when we see the members of the band, we quickly realize that the days of their youth are long gone. Nevertheless, it is no automatism that a well-aged unit is full of energy without resorting to cheap effects. I am very happy that this is the case here.

So from the first cautious drum rolls of "Architect Of The Silent War" to the final tones of the closer, these almost 38 minutes are nothing less but thrash metal entertainment on a very high level. Not perfect – little weaknesses cannot be totally ignored. The chorus of the actually vigorous "Foreshadowing" is more a stop sign than a chorus, because it is not able to make the best of the scenario the strong verses create. But the positive elements dominate very clearly. An experienced thrasher like "Symphony Of Twisted Souls", which combines vehement riffs with a few melodic moments, demonstrates the virtuosity of the five warriors. The band also presents itself very confidently at "The Moment To Arise". Every time I hear its bridge before the chorus, my body immediately releases happiness hormones: so strong, so energetic, so masterful. This part is as perfect as a harmonic, lustful and intense night with the girl you love after your football team has surprisingly won an important game and even the pizza delivery guy arrived on time with the ordered food; before or after the sex, you decide.

I have read a review for "Embrace The Awakening" in which the writer moans about the missing dirt. Honestly speaking, he needs a kind of brain wash. The album can burst with pride in view of its production. Total clarity liaises with absolute vehemence. Of course, we could shed a tear about the bass which would have deserved a little bit more room. But come on, we all know this problem all too well and it makes no sense to discuss and cry right now about it. This is pure thrash that needs no filthy component. The guy who said so should listen to some good black thrash. There he can find his acoustic paradise. If he forgets to take his laptop with him and spares us further criticism, so much the better.

What else should I mention? No downers, no boredom, no foul compromises, but pure thrash from the beginning to the end with a charismatic, powerful voice and a few, well-integrated background shouts, no death thrash, no hectic but expressionless guitar shredding: that's "Embrace The Awakening". I am so glad that the band did not need another 33 years for a new album, and I am inconsolable that Mezzrow did not release eight to fifteen full-lengths in the period from 1990 to 2023. Tempi passati – everyone with a heart for energetic, non-groovy old school thrash will fall in love with this work. And the fact that the five-piece mentions further Swedish thrash hordes in their special thanks lists makes Mezzrow all the more likable. Guess I have to check some of them as soon as I am able to remove "Embrace The Awakening" from my CD player.

Rating: 9.2 out of 10