Track Listing:
1. Go To Hell
2. Where Angels Weep
3. Armada On Fire
4. Triumph Of Death
5. Hexenkessel
6. Abaondon All Hope
7. Worms Of Eden
8. The Eye Of The Abyss
9. Light Reaper
10. The End
As far as Polish Death Metal goes, you cannot get much more revered than Vader. It's easy to forget that this is a band that is now thirty-one years into their career, especially considering the vitality and awesomeness of 2011's 'Welcome To The Morbid Reich'. Considering that brilliant previous album, expectations are high for 'Tibi Et Igni'.
There's a long, atmospheric build-up before 'Go To Hell' kicks in properly. Immediately thereupon, this album becomes everything you could want from Death Metal, and then some! The speed that Vader deliver this first song with defies the idea of mellowing with age. The riffs and percussion compliment each other brilliantly, and the vocal roars of Poirt 'Peter' Wiwczarek are impactful and vitriolic. 'Where Angels Weep' takes the second step in the hellish war march of the album, going from breakneck speed to slower, anvil-weight stomps in the vamped-up-Slayer idiom that Vader personify well, complete with atonal shredding solos.
In simple truth, there isn't much change to the tone and flow of the album as 'Armada Of Fire' comes ripping through the speakers, except that the riffs get bigger and the pace gets faster. This is simply Vader doing what they do best. 'Triumph Of Death' bears a talking point, though; there are riffs in the song that are eerily similar to those found in the Slayer classic 'Angel Of Death'. Some may get cynical and say that Vader have ripped Slayer off, however, there are still enough differences to show that this is not the case. Besides; when the resulting song is this good, who the hell cares?
'Hexenkessel' starts out with an epic, strings-led intro and a tolling bell before the heaviness reintroduces itself. This song stands out from the album due to a feel of scope and an almost Black Metal element to some of the tremolo-picked guitar lines. It's a little different for Vader, and it's an approach that Vader pull off very well, showing themselves to be more than a one-trick pony. The two and a half minute onslaught of 'Abandon All Hope' is a blasting lesson in brutality, while 'Worms Of Eden' keeps up the anti-religious attack with the kind of fury and fire that would leave fellow Poles Behemoth taking notes. And, no; the album still has not slowed down!
'The Eye Of The Abyss' is another adventure into the ominous, and the guitar leads that litter the long intro are sheer brilliance before the scything Death Metal attack comes ripping out with frightening proficiency, especially where James Stewart's drumming is concerned. Seriously; his bass drum kicks are so fast it borders on ridiculous. Stewart's chops then go on to open the more simplistic 'Light Reaper'.
By the time the gorgeous, thought-provoking 'The End' comes to a close, this album will doubtlessly leave any unprepared listeners in a state of shellshock. This album is Vader's magnum opus, their calling card, which is simply ridiculous! So long into their career, one would think they would be running out of ideas, but no such limitations apply to these gods of the Polish Death Metal scene. This is yet another memorable album for 2014, and a fine testament that Metal is going from strength to strength these days. Raise your horns and hail the mighty Vader!
Rating: 10/10
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