Triumph of Death
Resurrection of the Flesh
Noise Records / BMG
Released: 11/10/23
Version Reviewed: Digitial promo
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1 – The Third of the Storms (Evoked Damnation)
2 – Massacra
3 – Maniac
4 – Blood Insanity
5 – Decapitator
6 – Crucifixion
7 – Reaper
8 – Horus/Aggressor
9 – Revelations of Doom
10 – Messiah
11 – Visions of Mortality
12 – Triumph of Death
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Triumph of Death are the latest project from the legendary Tom G. Warrior, serving as a live offshoot of one of the most revered and esteemed acts in the heavy metal canon: Hellhammer.
What Resurrection of the Flesh offers is twelve live tracks of Hellhammer material recorded at three separate shows in Germany, Portugal, and the United States with a four-piece line-up, with a track list that covers material from all three of the original 1983 demo tape releases, Death Fiend, Triumph of Death, and Satanic Rites, and 1984’s Apocalyptic Raids EP.
Hellhammer have been credited by publications, fans, and bands across the metal spectrum over the span of four decades as being “proto-death metal” and with the updated live sound and fresh production, this is more evident that it’s ever been, and the songs have a renewed sense of life to be gifted to both longtime fans and the next generation. For being over four decades old, these songs have not aged at all.
Evident with the opening chords of ‘The Third of the Storms (Evoked Damnation)’ is the presence of what the live production does to these old songs. The prominent pronunciation of both Jamie Lee Cussigh and Tim Iso Wey in the mix brings a stark underlining to the low-end that just wasn’t possible with the analog technology available back in 1983. The double guitar attack of both Tom G. Warrior and Andre Mathieu merge together to create a sonic wall of primitive information. Somehow, after four decades, Tom G. Warrior’s guitar tone has been almost perfectly preserved in relation to the original Hellhammer recordings.
Tracks such as ‘Massacra’ and ‘Crucifixion’ charge ahead with renewed and revitalized energy, with Tom’s vocals sounding almost ageless atop of the music. ‘Blood Insanity’ receives new life thanks to the absolutely sinister sounding bass work at the beginning from Jamie Less Cussigh.
It is the sequential run starting on the eighth track, ‘Horus/Aggressor,’ that really drives home Triumph of Death’s zenith and Hellhammer’s contribution to the history of extreme music. These are old songs which include ‘Revelations of Doom,’ ‘Messiah,’ and the Celtic Frost track ‘Visions of Mortality,’ that are brought into new form. The low-end has pronouncement, the riffs have sharp clarity, the band as a whole is locked in and dialed in…many bands never make it to the forty-year mark and a live album after forty years often sounds sloppy and tired, Resurrection of the Flesh not only sounds vitalized, but it also puts many younger bands to shame.
If Resurrection of the Flesh happens to the be the final piece of the Hellhammer legacy, then it is a fitting one. A testament covering the legacy demos of a legendary band and an iconic musician. Triumph of Death filled a demand that was decades in the making and this album is a mandatory listen for old and new fans across the board.
Label: Noise Records
Label: BMG
Band: Triumph of Death
This review was originally written for Voices from the Darkside.
-AJK
apanthropy 
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