Primal Age - 2021 - Masked Enemy

(33:58; WTF Records)






















Track list:
1. Intro & Wise Old Man 4:24
2. The Devil Is Hidden in Shadow 3:12
3. Adolescent Humanity 2:22
4. The Two Heads Monster 3:16
5. Masked Enemy 3:19
6. I Warn You 3:14
7. The Downside of Progress 1:09
8. Who Dares Wins 3:58
9. Passion vs. Fashion 3:16
10. Blinded by Cruelty 3:48
11. Awakening of Consciousness 2:00

Line-up:
Not stated.


French band Primal Age have a history that goes back to the early 1990's, although they apparently haven't made too much history inside the recording studio in their almost 30 year long history. Their album "Masked Enemy" dates back to 2021. It is their third full length studio album to date, and was released through the label WTF Records.

While I see this band referenced in a hardcore context as well as in metalcore and something called edge metal, I belong to that age segment and demography that will describe the music this band explore as thrash metal, and then a variety of that style that comes with some elements also common in hardcore. A variation of the style that over time started to be referenced as crossover thrash. So where you would place this band in terms of style very much depends on your age as well as how much you are into all the subgenres of metal, but for my sake I stick to the old fashioned thrash metal here.

Tight riff and rhythm constellations define this album, and the songs smoothly move between different pace and intensity settings. Chugging riff cascades and staccato riff and rhythm movements with and without impact riffs and impact rhythms is just as much a part of the totality as groove oriented movements and slower paced, richer sounding arrangements taking charge of the songs. In terms of pace as well as intensity we get close to the boundaries of extreme metal at times, while at the other end of the spectrum we aren't all that far away from doom metal. The former of these extremes being quite a bit more prominent than the latter though.

The vocals remain the constant hardcore element throughout, barked vocals spitting out lyrics, with the backing vocals following the cues of the lead vocals when present. There's a lot of feeling and emotion present here too, as this is a band that are concerned about a number of ethical and political issues with animal welfare being the most important one for them judging by all the information on the subject that followed this CD. A subject that is important too, and one that it will be much more important to focus on and fight for now that the thoughts and minds of people increasingly will focus on the war that is going on as well as the direct and indirect consequences for people with an increased cost of living, inflation hitting essential goods and services in particular and life in short getting to be more difficult for normal people. In such situations, the rights of animals tends to be an overlooked subject, sadly.

While this album didn't grab me personally on a deeper level I recognize quality when I hear it. This is a tight, energetic and very well made album on all levels. The mix and production is excellent, the songs are kept short and sweet as to not overly explore any themes, motifs or arrangements, and in essence this is an album that should have a broad appeal among fans of thrash metal in particular as well as those who like hardcore and the various old and new subgenres people have invented that describe music made by blending elements from hardcore and metal. A well made album that I suspect many would really enjoy if they took the time to seek it out and give it a listen.

Olav M. Björnsen, March 2022

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/PRIMALAGE
https://wtfrecords.eu/

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