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▓█▌▐█▌  ▓▀    ▀▀ ▓▀   ▀▓    ▀▀▀    ██▓ ██ ▀▀               ▀  █▌       ▓ ▀▀▀▀ ▀ ▐█▓ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▓██▄█▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀   ▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▌▀ ░▓█▓░ ▀█▄                ▓▐█▀▀                      ░▓█▓░ ░█▓░░  ▓                      ▓        ▓░▓█░  ░▓▄█████▄░   ▄ ▄  ▓▄██████▄░  ░▐██▀▀▀▀███▓░ ▀▓▀ ▀▓▀ ░███▀▀▀▀██▄▓ ▀▀▀   ▀▀▀▀▀▀  ▀▀▀▀▀   ▀▀▀ ███  ████▀    ▄▀▀▄▄█████▄▄ ▄▄█████▄▄▀▀▄   ▀████   ██  ██   ▀██▄▐▄  ■ ▄██▀▀ ▀██▄ ▄ ▄██▀ ▀▀██▄ ■ ▄ ▄██▌   ▐█▓  ░▓▄   ▀██▄▀▓█▄▄▄█▀▀ ▄ ▄▓▓▄ ▐█▌ ▌ ▀▓▀ ▐▓▓▌ ▄▓▓▄ ▄ ▀▀▓▄▄░▄██▀   ▄▀      ▓░▓▄███   ▐▀ ▀▓▀ ▀▀ ▄██▀ ▀██▄ ▀▀ ▀▓▀  ▀███▄ ▓▓        ▄██▀▓   ■ ▀▄▀ ▀▄▀ ■   ░▀███░       ▓███▓     ░░ ▐▌ ▐▌     ░███▓      ███▌░  ▀ ▀ ███▓    ▐██▀ ▀███░   ██▌  Artist...: Bitterness ░▐██▌  ░▐██   Album....: Dead World Order  ░██▌░ ▓▐██   Year.....: 2020  ▓▐██▓ ▓▐██   Rel.Date.: 2021-01-24  ░▐██▓  ▐██   Genre....: Thrash Metal   ██▌░ ░ ██▌  Label....: G.U.C.   ██▌    ▐██  Source...: CD  ▐██    ░▐██▌ Type.....: Album ▐██▌░  ▓▄████ Quality..: VBR, 44.1kHz, Joint Stereo ████▌░ ▓▄████ ████▌░   ███▌░  ███▓   ▐██░░▀█▄░         ▓█▌  ███  ▀██▓ ▓█▄        ▄█▀ ▓██▀    ▓██▄ ▓▓▀▄    ▄▓▀  ▄██▓░     ██▌    ▓  ▄▄▄ ░    ▐██▓░       ██▌    ░ ░▀▄▓▓█▀█▄▀▀░     ▓██░         ░██░     ░ ░▄ ▄▄██▐▓▓█▄░▄█▌██▀▀ ▀░ ░ ▄▄▀▀█░░▐█░      ▄  ▐█▌░    ░▄▄▀▓▓███▀▄░ ▓▄▄█▌▓▓█ ▓█░   ▀░▀  ██     ▀▀▀ ░█▓▄▄▄█▀░ ▓█        ░▐█▌    ░█▌▐▓ ▓▄▄░ ▌         ░█░     ▄  ▐▓▓▀▀▀░▓█▄▄░       ░░▄█▄ ▄ ██▄ ▀░▀ ▀█░▄▄▄  ▄█░▄▀▀▄▀▀▄░▀▀▄       ▀▀████████▀░ ▀▀░  ▄█▓░░░░▀░░█ █▄█▓        ▐█░▀██▀ ▄█▓░░░ ▐ ▄ ░▓█▄        ▓  ▐▌  ▐ ▄█▀█░ ░  ░ ▄ ▀█▄▓█░    ░▓▓▀▀░▄ ▌▓   ■░▒ ░ ▄ ▐▀▀▓▄█▓░░ ░ ░ ▄█▀█░█▐▓▌▀▄         ░▀█▌  ▓▬ ▓▀▓ ░▄▄▓▀▓░      ░▀█░▀█▄░░  ░█░ ██ █░▀█▐▌       ░▓░░▐▌   ▌ ░░■  ▄█▐  ▐       ▓▓▓█░▓█▄▄█░  █▓█▓▌░ ▀  ▄         ▓░▓ █▓▐░▌ ▓ ░▓▓ ▓▐▒▄░░▐▓█  ▌         █▀▀░▐▀░█▀▓  ▐▌ █▌    ▀░▀     ▄ ▐░▌░▐█ █▌ ▓   ░█░░█▀ ▐▓▐░ ▀▄▄▀▀▌░   ▄▄███▐████▄▓  ▌        █  ░   █ ─▀▀▀█▓░█▄▌  ▐░▐░ ▄▄▄░██  ░ ░ ░▓░  ▐▌▓▄▌▓▓▌▓▐▓█▀  ■                ▄ ▌     ▀█▄█▌ █▌▐▓░█▓ ▀ ░░░ ░▓█▄█  █▓▓▓▓▓█▄▓▓▐▓  ░        █  ░  ▄ ▀ ░  ░  ▓██ 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▓█░▓▄▄▄████▄▓▀ ▄▄▓ ▄▄▄░█▌ ░▄▀▀▄█▓░ ▓▓█░████▓███░██▀▓▓███▓ ▓██▓▐█▌ ███▄▄   ▐███▄ ▓▄█▀▀  ▐█▄█▀  ▄▀▀░ ▄█▀░ ░ ▓████████▐██████▓█▓ ▓█ ██  ░█▓ ▐█▄▓██▄██▄▐█▌░   ▐██▌▓▄█▀▓    ▄▄▀▀▀▀▄▄▄ ▓██▓▓▓▀▄████▐░███ █░█▌▄ ▐█▀██▀ ██▀   ▀███▄▄█▓ ███████▄▓▀▀▀▀▄▓  ░▄██▓ ▓ ▓██▓▀▄█████▓ ▄▄▀▀▓▄▄█▄▐█▄▄▓▄▄▄▄▄▄▄░▄░░░▄▄▀▄▄▀█░▄▄▄▄▄▄▐█▌ ▄██▀▄▄▄▄▄▄ ██░████ ▓     ░  ▓██░                        ▓█▄█▀     ▓██████            ▀▀▄▓                      ▓▀▀▀       ▓ █    1. The Last Sunrise 0:44 2. A Bullet a Day 3:58 3. Dead World Order 6:06 4. Idiocracy 6:03 5. Let God Sort 'em Out 4:28 6. Forward into the Past 3:58 7. Blood Feud 7:33 8. None More Black 4:05 9. Darkest Times 5:41 ------ 42:36 Since 2001, Bitterness have lurked in the background of German thrash metal, doing little more than remaining consistent. Now up to their seventh full-length, the familiar Teutonic influences remain on Dead World Order, though the album features a greater mixture of sounds than traditionally associated with the region. A sort of melodeath propulsion colours the faster moments of BitternessÆs attack, which has become less obvious since the groupÆs formation. As jumping note patterns alternate with down-picked chugs the mood changes too, leading songs like æForward Into the PastÆ from dancing momentum towards grittier passages. More evocative melodic techniques on æNone More BlackÆ and balladic closing instrumental æDarkest TimesÆ push the sound closer to Insomnium or Omnium Gatherum too, despite references to modern Kreator and Testament being the foundation of most of the 9 tracks. At times, a social anger wells up from frontman Frank Urschler, lending æIdiocracyÆ greater whiplashing power and propelling the Germans to more incensed feats of shredding. Balance all that with some moments of downbeat reflection and groovy riffing during æBlood FeudÆ and the 43 minute release feels nice and complete. Through their remarkable balancing act, the trio manage to achieve more than expected from a solid melodic thrash template, aiming neither for any especially heavy moments nor technical additions and staying comfortably away from extreme pace too. This moderation concurs with the modern production by Cristoph Brandes and natural mixing job by Harris Johns, which lay everything out honestly and simply. That may lead some to write off Dead World Order as rather middling in quality, but adept songwriting and a sufficient amount of memorable passages raise the latest Bitterness album comfortably above mediocrity. --- Now here's a band I can't believe I'd never encountered before this year. Coming into being in the early '00s, when thrash was barely even in its foetal stage of revival, Germany's Bitterness began life leaning more towards melodic death metal rather than full-on thrash (though I'd argue their works between 2002 and 2009 would definitely appeal to Kreator fans). Their foray into more straightforward thrash metal a la Sodom or Destruction began with 2009's Genociety though I would recommend checking out any album of theirs if you're the into true Teutonic style of metal. Previous effort, 2015's Resurrexodus, was a rock-solid thrash album with occasional death metal leanings, and now, 2020's Dead World Order seems to be the next logical step in the band's evolution. As you can see, I've had to do my research on this act because I feel ashamed at having never come across them before! Any comments I make about their stylistic development are just water under the bridge because, when all's said and done, Bitterness are a great band overall and this new LP is a damn fine addition to their discography. Dead World Order seems to have all but erased any melodeath influences; the riff-set sounding like it came right out of a 2007 retro-thrash album, and vocalist Frank Urschler employing a semi-harsh bark, rather than a deathly growl. That's not to say it hits with any less impact. If anything, the more riff-centric approach taken on this album is something to be applauded. The record isn't saturated wth constantly twiddling distracting lead guitar work, instead choosing to indulge in the art of the chunky riff. That is why I listen to metal (thrash especially) - riffs, riffs, and more fucking riffs. From the chromatic speedfreaks like "Forward Into The Past" to the grinding chug-a-thons like "Blood Feud", Dead World Order is a riff-fest and a headbanger/fist-pumper's paradise. I am especially fond of the slower, groovier moments. I utterly adore when a thrash band slam on the brakes and crank out a foot-stomping mid-paced number like Anthrax's "Keep It In The Family" or Overkill's "Horrorscope". Well, it's the title-track that delivers the goods here with a neck-breaking 6 minutes of martial hammering. On the other end of the spectrum, Bitterness also succeed in thrashing like there's no tomorrow. The speedy assault of "Idiocracy" is pumped up with great use of scales and addictive gang-shouts, whilst the equally battering "Let God Sort 'Em Out" contains a wonderfully infectious refrain of 'KILL 'EM ALL!' and is laced with sardonic humour (also, the riff after the solo is pure fucking gold, and the stop-start riff at the very start hurts my neck). The Germans throw more of their bitterly sarcastic attitude at the opener "A Bullet A Day". I can almost hear them grinning with menace throughout the whole record, and it really fits the theme of the album created by the great artwork. If only Ed Repka could have contributed. The real intrigue on Dead World Order lies towards the end of the album. The 7.5-minute "Blood Feud" displays their penchant for expansive songwriting accompanied by some simple, but incredibly effective, palm-muted riffing. Then "None More Black" suddenly reverts back to the Germans' early work with blast-beats, mild black metal sensibilities and a hell of a performance from Urschler behind the mic. If you were disappointed by fellow countrymen Protector and their mediocre effort last year, then pick up a copy of this as soon as possible. It flows wonderfully as one cohesive, concise package; never out-staying its welcome due to its refreshingly brief duration. It's nice to have an album of this sub-genre which you can dip in and out of, but also listen front-to-back and have a fluid experience. The instrumental intro opens proceedings accordingly, then the similarly instrumental outro "Darkest Times" bookends the whole affair in totally suitable fashion. Dead World Order isn't going to break any boundaries upon release, or even convince thrash metal naysayers, but it's another worthy addition to what has already been a hell of a year for the sub-genre. An all-round solid, riff-heavy and great thrash metal album done the way only Germany knows how.                                                                                                     ▀▀░                                                                                                                ░▄▀                                  ▄█▀                                             ░▄           ░▐███░               ▀█░▄▄▄                    ▄░       ▀█░░                      ░           ▀▀░                                         ▄  ░                                          ▄     █          ▀                 ▄              ▄█▄ ▄ ██▄         ▀░▀     ▄         ▀                ▀░▀   ▀         ▀▀████████▀░                   ▀ ▄      ░                      ░░       ░▀██▀                    ▀██▄                ▄               ▐     ░      ░  █▀▄    ▐▓▓▌   █                    ▄   ▄▄       ░                    ▄▄▌█  ▄▄▓▓▓▀  ▄                      ▄ ▀   ████      ░                   ▐███▌  ░ ░                  ▄██▀     ▄▄██▄▄           ░           ▄▄███▄▄ ▄  ▓                         ▐▓▓▌  ░   ▓████▄        ▀          ▀    ▓█████▓  ▀ ▄                           ▀▓▓▓▄▄   ▐▓███ ▌                       ▌█████      ▀██▄   ▄                ░▄  ▀▀██▄▐████ ▌▐ ▌▓                ▓▐ ▌█▓███       ▐▓▓▌ ▀░▀           █    █  ░ ░▓▐████▄▌▐ ▌▌ ▌▌▐ ▌▐▄ ▐▐·▌▌▐▐ ▐ ▄█████    ▄▄▓▓▓▀                            ▓ ▓▐████ ▌▐ ▌▌ ▌▌▐ ▌▐▐▓▐▐ ▌▌▐▐ ▐ ▌█████ ▄█▓▀▀  ▄░ ░            ▄▄▄░      ▓     ░▐████▄▌▐▄▌▌▄▌▌▐ ▌▐▐▄▐▐▄▌▄▐▐▓▐▄▌█████ ▓     █               █████      ▐▄░   ▓▐████ ▌▐ ▌▌ ▌▌▐ ▌▐▐ ▐▐ ▌▌▐▐▓▐ ▌█████   ▓░   ▄         ▐▓    █▓███░    ▓▐█░▄▄  ▐████ ▌▐ ▌▌ ▌▌▐ ▌▐█ ▐▐ ▌▌▐▐ ▐ ▌█████    ▄██▄ ▀ ▄      █▌    █████▓   ██▀█▀▀   ▐█▓██ ▌▐ ▌▌ ▌▌▐ ▌▐▐ ▐▐ ▌▌▐▐ ▐ ▌███▓█   ▐█▓██▓   ▀██▄ ▀██▀   █████▓░    ▓█▌    ▐████▓▌▐▄▌▌▄▌▌▄ ▌▐▐▄▐▐▓▌▌▐▐▄▐▄▌█████   ▐████▌    ▐▓▓▌▓█▌   ▄█▓███▄░     ▐█▄▓  ▐████ ▌▐ ▌▌ ▌▌▐ ▌▐▐ ▐▐ ▌▌▐▐ ▐ ▀█▓███   ▐████▌ ▄▄▓▓▓▀  █▓  ████████▄▄▓ ▄█████▌ ▐████ ▌▐ ▌▌ ▌▌▐ ▌▐▐ ▐▐ ▌▌▐▐▓▐ ▌█████   ▓████▌░ ▄▄   ▄▄█▄▄ ██████████████████████████████▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄     █████  ░██▓████▓██▓▓██████ █░█████▄▀█▄░████████▄▄▄▄▄██████▓████████░██████▄▄▄▄▄███████░▄██░█░█████████ ▓██▀█████▓░░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░░░▓███▓█████ ████████▓ ▓██▓▐████▓ ▓██ █░███ █░██████▓ ███▓▄▀█▓ ▓ ▓█████▓███████ ▓███ ░▄▄▄▓████▓ ▓████████▓ ▓██████▓ ▓████▓