Here’s another review from Cool Try.

This one was the sixth I had written for the website.
The review is rough which is partly due to inexperience.

To be honest, I didn’t like the album but I couldn’t justify saying it was bad.

The only thing I’ve fixed is a spelling error. Otherwise this is as it was.

I do think it highlights what I was trying to do at the time, which to be honest is what I’m trying to do right now.

Not sure if I’m doing a better job now. Definitely doing it with more words.

I hope you enjoy.

—

Thy Art Is Murder have been around for nine years and have continued to pick up momentum as they have progressed. Their third album is a good indicator that they’re going to keep rising.

The first eighty-seven seconds of Holy War is a crawl. An almost grinding guitar sits above a pulsing beat accompanied by pained gutturals.
After this, the album kicks into a full-speed technical assault.

As the the album goes through its tracks, the songs cycle through slow and fast with the occasional breakdown without sounding forced. The sections should be contradictory, but instead they sit together nicely and flow well, allowing the lean thirty-eight to thirty-nine minutes to pass by without dragging.

The band sound quite disciplined here. Whilst there is a feeling that the music will become chaotic at any point, everyone hold the reins tightly and keep everything on track.
The pinpoint timing of the bass and drums underpin the semi-relentless riffing whilst the vocals scream with the intensity to match.

Occasionally there can be more ambient sounds heard.
It’s difficult to discern what they add to the songs other than making them sound a slight bit more full, but they don’t take anything away as they are kept in the background.

Lyrically the album is alright.
They come across quite clearly and don’t waffle on.
Considering the delivery, they seem to be more about the feel than they are about the thought.
As they come off as bleak, oppressive, and confronting, they sit well with the music.

Holy War is a solid release.
It isn’t the most inviting release but it’s better off for it.
It doesn’t feel forced or as though there were detrimental compromises made.
Both the band and their fans can be satisfied with this one.