• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

I had no idea Germany's Protector had been around since the mid-80s when I started listening to their 2013 album Reanimated Homunculus, but it sure explains a lot. My first thought, upon hearing the raw, vicious Thrash was that these guys must have listened to Slayer's Hell Awaits a couple of times. Then the harsh vocals kick in and shades of Death, Sodom and the like start to float around the periphery of the album. Whatever the influences, Reanimated Homunculus is an album that will tear your throat out. Crushing riffs and blazing speed are meted out in equal measure to keep things from getting monotonous and dark, occasionally socio-political lyrics are delivered to your cerebral cortex with a goddamn sledgehammer. This is another case where the songs aren't breaking any new ground but are played so well and with such obvious conviction, who cares? Tracks like "Reanimated Homunculus" and "Sons of Kain" are tailor-made for the mosh pit. It's been 20 years since Protector last released a full-length album but on Reanimated Homunculus, it sounds as if they haven't missed a beat. Get ready to throw some fists in the air.