Poor distribution by Hades Almighty’s Psycho Bitch Records representation has prompted a re-release of their 2001 album “The Pulse of Decay”. And understandably so - the at times clinical, at other times almost melodic brand of extreme black and thrash metal explored on the Norwegian group’s fourth album is worthy of wider recognition. There aren’t many metal records being released these days which really get my blood pumping, but this is certainly one of them, despite the fact that Hades Almighty aren’t ones to favour gruellingly speedy riffs or superfast blast beats. For the most part, they play somewhere near mid-tempo, taking their time to carefully build up an industrially cold atmosphere, and with a good set of headphones the high quality of production really complements this mood.

(more…)