German speed metal! This week we’re checking out Savage Gods by Baden-Württemberg’s own Cruel Force. The band is made up of GG Alex, Slaughter, Carnivore, and Spider. Carnivore’s a pretty tough name. You wouldn’t want to mess with Carnivore. According to the Encyclopaedia Metallum they focus on themes of Satan, Blasphemy, and Heavy Metal Cult. I’m not sure what heavy metal cult is, but I bet they have good mixers.

The song kicks off with some guitar and drums that give off a Mediterranean vibe before dropping into the main riff. Frenetic guitars punctuate the growly metal vocals of Carnivore in a great way, and the noodly guitar fills after each line are fantastic. And the solo toward the end has just enough shred to hit the RDA for metal. The song does have a great breakdown at the end. Like they got so tired from being speedy metalheads that they need a nap. Despite the video coming out a week ago, the mix definitely sounds like 1985, especially on the drums. That kinda hollow-y echo is fun and makes me think of dragging my bench press out into the backyard in summer.

The video looks like they’re performing somewhere in Greece. Or like the steps of a courthouse. Lotta quick cuts between band members ensures you know who they all are. It is a little bummer they left the drummer in the recording studio. Maybe it was too expensive to ship his kit to the parthenon so he threw a tantrum and decided “he didn’t want to go to stupid Greece anyway.” I am not speaking from personal experience there, I’m just guessing why he didn’t get to go. Or maybe they won’t let him in because he said tzatziki sauce is weird.