Morbid Tales
It's only by about track six that you realise that Nuclear Death Terror have even been dividing Chaos Reigns into songs such is the homogenous pebble-dashed blast the band cough up on this compilation of old and new material for their Southern Lord debut. The rawness of the record's production is probably what most instantly differentiates it from metal while the sheer brutality stops this being just punk as the filth encrusted riffs and relentless d-beat rhythms accompany singer Adam's vain attempts to rid his throat of gravel inflected phlegm.
From the band's name to the lyrical themes Nuclear Death Terror are admirably bloody minded. From the cries of "Fire, chaos, death!" on Collapse to the title track's refrain of "All is dark.Chaos reigns" Nuclear Death Terror don't so much revel in pandemonium as despair of it. Whilst there is a preoccupation with war, oppression and devastation this isn't some abstract posing; Nuclear Death Terror aren't reluctant to get into politics both personal and public on Chaos Reigns, something mainstream punk apparently abandoned years ago.
The predominately Danish five piece band's blunt, primordial sound combined with Southern Lord's wider patronage of a crust re-emergence are a welcome response to the gleaming tech facade of much modern death metal and the touched upon vacuity of much punk. Slashing guitar leads add a tad of variation, see Devolve to Submission, to an otherwise traditional approach of speed married to jagged riffs. The level of genre purity (Celtic Frost cover aside) on an album of grinding intensity will no doubt please many a fan. Nuclear Death Terror might not set the world alight but they will ignite more than the odd toilet venue stage with their riotous assault.