After lasting ten-year band history and this early year published 12'' EP Firestorm Redemption, Ares Kingdom finally have announced their debut record. Return to Dust is in no way inferior to their recent EP as their first demo of 1997. Ares Kingdom manifests at this silvering their obvious mix of old and occasionally abstract seeming Death Metal (reminding Order From Chaos, an earlier band of some Ares Kingdom musicians, know what I mean), tidy concentrated with Thrash Metal elements.

Return to Dust is just great fun, because this 'old-fashioned' Death/Thrash style can treat a lot. All songs maintain stir in middle-fast stomping tempi, embellished gallantly and very varied. Above all Chuck Keller, knowing how to enthuse with Vulpecula, brilliantly acts at the guitars. His manifold playing of hard, impelling riffs, easy melodies and awesome soli is just overwhelming. He controls it perfectly, changing seamlessly between those different styles in split-seconds, seeming effortless. Return to Dust is rhythmically reflected beyond all structured pretentious. Songs are held slow to mid-fast, but above all boring, because Ares Kingdom exploits drums and percussions fully and interact with smaller and bigger rhythm changes during the songs.

Return to Dust occurs to some antiquated, stylistic, atmospheric as tonal. This record has a peculiar sound being powerful and using varied instruments and vocals, but isn't comparable with those crystal-clear perfect productions of actual Death Metal publications. I consider this sound fitting this music and Return to Dust is above all an outstanding opus that satisfied me totally. Metal pure!!!


Aceust

(Translation by G.P.)

01. Firestorm redemption
02. A dream of armageddon
03. Failsafe
04. Fear itself
05. Lamentations
06. None escape
07. Sins of the father
08. Ironclad


ARES KINGDOM
NUCLEAR WAR NOW! PRODUCTIONS