Duel – Breakfast With Death

 

 

Duel – Breakfast With Death
Heavy Psych Sounds Records – 2024
Metal, Stoner, Thrash
Rated: *****

Been having coffee, a boiled egg and freshly baked rolls every morning for the past months. And on all of those early morning meals I was joined by a smiling and courteous Grim Reeper. For mr. Death himself has been on the very best of behaviors ever since hearing the new amazing Duel album. It’s the perfect record from him. And yes, for me as well. That ferocious metal, the thrash influences, that sound so sweetly transported out of the glory days of the eighties. I love Duel. Ever since their first album Fears Of The Dead from 20216. Am happy to have seen them live at Helldorado Festival once.  Their Valley of The Shadows album ended up on the Number 5 spot of the Stoner HiVe Top 20 Countdown of  2019 according to all the votes that came in. And together with their 2021 In Carne Persona album they have all been on heavy rotation over here... 

But nothing comes close to the manner in which I have been gorging on Breakfast With Death! The immediateness and intensity of it all keeps me coming back for seconds every morning of every day. They’ve punked out their stoner and thrashed their metal; and that instantly comes out blasting with opener Ancient Moonlight. That guitar tone, those drums, it burns, it sears and its only thanks to the dragging vocals that the speed with which it is delivered becomes palatable and the taste lingers. Especially since towards the end it all slows down, setting you up for the masterstroke that follows. Satan’s Invention, perhaps Duel at its most pop sensible, slower in riffs, gradual in drums, manages to combine every one of their strengths into a perfect delivery. And those vocals, the lyrics are so astute, but the magic is in the delivery, the rolling of the syllables that make Satan’s Invention undeniable and addictive. And that is once again so wonderfully off set by the most classic metal and thrash bridged Chaos Reigns track that follows. So scathing, so biting, aggressive and so full of powerful release. The guitar and drums, methodical, slaying and commanding, not giving any moment of respite until perhaps the wonderful solo that surfs on top of that maniacal thrash drumming. The vocals pulling you in and pushing you along, offering up the shout along on a silver platter. You will. You can’t help yourself. Even if the sun hasn’t yet risen. And all of that energy, all off those Duel strengths keep returning on all of the tracks that follow, and they close it all off with the incredibly gnarly, teeth baring, Greet The Dead and the knock out punch Burn The Earth. An opening salvo leads you to this anxious and tongue out groove that paves the way for another brilliant singalong chorus. Their most dynamic track on the album, switching it up, even in minute ways with every part of the composition. Ferocious and blistering, start to finish. As is the album. No better way to wake up. Listening to this will blast away every possible bit of a hangover. It will set your head right and the scythe will stay in a corner as you and Mr. Reeper grab another cup o’ joe, hit the repeat button and butter each other’s biscuit…

(Written by JK)

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