Label: Satanath Records
Release date: May 21st, 2024
And at the end of my bragging, who I have known for ages we’ll move to the biggest island and at the same time a Caribbean archipelago. Well, we’ll do it for the second time in a few months. But since I know (we didn’t meet in the real world, only in this virtual one we do it, yet, but I hope it’ll happen one day) the vocalist from several years, then writing this review totally meets conditions of privacy or self-service, if you prefer to call it so. Anyways, I think I should write something about the band itself first. Actually, I’m sure of that because the Cuban scene is, for several reasons, unknown outside the island and maybe even Caribbean. Anyways, Combat Noise is one of the oldest still existing ensembles and comes from, just like the most of bands, even if in other communities also interesting things happen, from the most populous and capital city – Havana. They were founded in 1995 and “To the Heart…” is their only forth full-length. They of course have several demos, Eps and singles, too, which considering the number of changes in line-up is quite a good result in my opinion.
Album had its premiere not too long ago, May 21st, and is released on CD by Satanath Records from Georgia. Well, on their profile at the oldest portal dedicated to spreading videos you can find information it’s co-release with Sanatorio Records of Costa Rica. But in the catalogue of this second, I didn’t find Combat Noise at all. It contains eleven compositions of our Cuban friends and covers of some English band from Coventry who existed between 1986 and 2016 and where the vocalist was Karl Willetts. They take almost (without two seconds) forty-eight minutes, to give you all, let’s call them, technical information. So, now I can with a clean soul go to the most important part of every review. I mean, describing the music band is playing. And the easiest way to do it is to use some terms which say what awaits you and what decision you should make. Well, as I mentioned a few times in the past, it’s not so easy. You know, Death Metal can be played in several ways and for example American, English, Austrian or Durch one sounds different for experienced ears, doesn’t it? In the case of Combat Noise, we have to do with, what’s not too strange and quite easy to guess, a mix of Florida and English styles. Well, to be honest I think influences of a covered band’s creativity are clear not only in lyrics.
Everything’s here just like it should be in old school death metal. And this sentence is, almost, enough for fans of this subgenre of metal. They need only one more information – about tempo and so on. But this one will come a little later, so if you’re not a patient person just scroll these few lines. Personally, I hope most of you won’t do it and just read what I’ll write for a while. Guitar play (both in riffs and guitar tricks) reminds me of the above-mentioned, very well-known for every self-respecting fan of the death metal ensemble of Coventry. Well, actually the same thing I can say about drumming or vocals, so to make it short about the common character of Havana’s residents’ creativity is strongly inspired by it. Of course, Combat Noise adds something of its own, music has touched both of some Americans, especially Florida (what’s as clear as a day also because of geography – Cuba lies really near this peninsula), but also Swedish old-school bands and even something unique, at least I hear that. Something that tells us we have to do with bands coming from Latin American cultural circles.
In the end I’d like to thank the guys who stay behind labels for releasing this great shit in format I, and other such freaks, love very much! So, I don’t know what you’re still waiting for. I mean, if you like middle tempos, mostly death metal, then you should order this CD as quickly as possible. As I know the number of items is limited (to 500 copies, which isn’t in today’s condition to less, but anyways). That’s why if I was in your shoes, I’d do it immediately! These thirteen plunkers are a ridiculously low price in my opinion.
