Tormentor

[Eoin McLove]

Having read a couple of interviews lately with Adam of Malokarpatan where he credited 'Recipe Ferrum! 777' as an influence on their sound I decided to have a listen. This album seems to be completely overlooked when Tormentor are discussed but it has been perfectly hitting the spot for me since getting it a week ago. Their earlier, more revered recordings are good for what they are and as historical artefacts, but this album is fucking brilliant. A bit whacky in places, perhaps, and with a far stronger focus on classic heavy metal/ hard rock sounds than anything you could term necro. It's just very, very catchy and memorable songwriting that refuses to conform to expectations. I have 'Nykta' by Zemial lined up next after reading the Strings of Discord interview earlier and I'd say there's some sort of vague similarity between the two, if only in terms of scope and production. I'm completely hooked. Tormentor have been active again as a live act but I think they are focusing on their earlier material. The chance of them following this more individual sounding path on future recordings is I'm sure slim, seeing as it has been generally received as a disappointment and that's a real shame.

Edit.  Admittedly side D could have been axed.

[Slaughterday]

I've always imagined Recipe Ferrum to be Tormentor's equivalent of 'Slagry', but have never actually listened to it. Curious to give it a try now.

Anno Domini is untouchable of course.

[Eoin McLove]

I had the same notion about it too but it's not as iconoclastic as Šlágry. A different beast to Anno Domini to be sure but still metal.

Having been put on mind if Šlágry I fired it on for the first time in a while. A madcap little journey it is, too. Not a patch on Ritual or Jilemnice Occultista, needless to say, but it has its own nutty charm.

[Slaughterday]

Listening to Recipe Ferrum now and I'm definitely intrigued. Sounds more like Voodoo/House of God era King Diamond more than anything else, which I wasn't expecting. Would I listen again if it was some other band without the credentials of Tormentor? Hard to say... but I'm going to revisit this again for sure. Cara Mia is a great tune.

[Eoin McLove]

Yep, Cara Mia is the one I listened to before buying it. I think that bar the last few pointless tracks, the album is consistently strong throughout. It's kind of uncomplicated in a way. Very strong on the 80s Judas Priest worship to my ear with those epic,  reverb drenched catchy solos that dominate but with a darker edge brought into the mix courtesy of Atilla's theatrical vocals.

I'm not familiar with those King Diamond albums so I'll have to give them a spin if they are similar to Recipe Ferrum.

[Pagan Waltar]

Speaking of Malokarpatan, I have the debut lp for sale