Godslave

That was a close callA full five years after 'Positive Aggressive,' Godslave are finally back with a new studio album-and things could have turned out very differently During a difficult period-which the band had already laid bare in their documentary 'Hinter der Kulisse'-and through a return to their roots with the tribute album 'Champions,' the five German musicians found their way back to each other, both as a band and as individuals.The result is aptly titled 'Godslave.' Never before has an album been the product of such collaborative work, shared discussions, and collective ideas-and you can really hear it!Even the brutal opener 'Reset, Rebuild, Reclaim' makes it unmistakably clear what this is all about: drawing a line under the past, rolling up your sleeves, and fighting your way back step by step. It's no coincidence that this song, of all things, became one of the hardest-hitting thrash tracks in the band's history-Godslave still have a lot in store!!The deeply meaningful lyrics-for which the band is known-also follow this path. They tell of empathy and forgiveness ('Repaid in Kind'), depression ('Square One'), the search for a sense of belonging ('Part of the Pack'), and coping with self-hatred ('And Yet I Stand'). The emotional climax comes from the struggle with the inner fire-torn between a warming source and a destructive force: the yin-yang duo of the death metal-inspired 'Let the Fire Come' and the over seven-minute-long closing epic 'The Fire That Calls Me,' in which none other than Laura Guldemond of BURNING WITCHES takes on the role of the protective fire.Musically, the album spans the spectrum from uncompromising thrash to the grand, epic melodies that Godslave have long made their trademark. Above all, however, the album reinforces the band's commitment to forging their own path: German thrash metal with a positive attitude!Not because the world needs more anger-but because it can use more hope