A new output from STF-Records. The label has already made a name for itself with some metal releases in this very scene. Building on that, here comes the third album from “THY FINAL PAIN“ from Stuttgart or rather the Stuttgart area. The cover is not for the faint of heart. The lady on the cover is chained, and deep wounds have been cut into her left arm, so that her left side is drenched in blood. One has to swallow hard at that. It’s not a fantasy creature; it’s a human, and the cover is very vividly designed. When I think about the fact that this music is also listened to by younger people, I can just imagine the horrified faces of the parents when they see the cover. “Is my child still normal?” they will ask. Normal? What is that in an abnormal world?
Before I get to the music, the band photo in the middle of the cover is particularly striking. Christopher (drums) in the middle looks like a violent (autonomous) Nazi from the last NPD demo with his black top, shaved head, and sunglasses. I’m not saying he is, but one should perhaps work on the style for that reason. Otherwise, it could be taken the wrong way.
Now let’s get to the music. The 13 songs were recorded in the cozy yet boring Bretzfeld in the Hohenlohe district. It’s a district that just goes about its life, houses many older and so-called normal people, and for me, it is the epitome of rural life. It’s only the surface, but wondering is still allowed. So that’s where the three musicians recorded. The result is truly listenable. Here we have old-school death metal. The guitar is thick, the drums even thicker yet still recorded very distinctly, and the vocals by Marc and Simon are even partially understandable. There are growls, of course, but not to the point of being unrecognizable.
There are no samples, no technical fiddling, just earthy, hearty, powerful death metal that has become rare in this quality.
Lyrically, it moves in familiar death metal territories. It’s about cannibalism, the captivity of being, and suicide. The lyrics have some depth and were probably not written in five minutes.
Overall, it’s an album that any death metal fan, especially those who like the old school, can appreciate. Those who also have violent fantasies or enjoy BDSM will find both the music and the cover very pleasing.
