KRYPTOS – Decimator (Album Review)

Old-school decimation strikes back

Being ahead of the curve is an honor observed by very few, especially when one is situated in an area where a given craft is scarce. Such is the unique disposition of Bangalore, India’s premier heavy metal band Kryptos, a band that has been sloughing away as far back as the mid-1990s under the moniker of 8 On The Richter, and has gone on to become a consequential player in the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal.

Sporting an atypical blend of NWOBHM and early German heavy and thrash metal influences that run the gamut from Iron Maiden and Accept to Kreator and Destruction, this quartet has been nothing else if not a consistent proponent of a sound that is appropriate to the 2020s, yet also might have been heard as far back as the mid-1980s in both central and western Europe. Now 7 full-length albums deep into their career, 4 of them under the banner of AFM Records no less, these heavy thrashing mainstays have unleashed yet another rock-solid slab of old-school goodness in 2024’s “Decimator” that lives up to its name.

Precise and concise songwriting is the primary selling point of this 9-part, 31-minute-long duration of classic metallic fervor, with no expense being spared in the energy department. Sticking to his raspy, static growl that bears an uncanny resemblance to Schmier’s and Petrozza’s signature snarl from the olden days and pounding out old-school riff work like it’s going out of style, frontman and lone founding member Nolan Lewis leads a sonic assault that rests comfortably between where heavy metal left off and thrash would begin in its primordial state.

The result is a compelling time capsule that might have some of the older guard among the metal masses checking their calendars to be sure that they aren’t caught in a time paradox. Flanked by a lead guitar display out of Rohit Chaturvedi that rings pretty close to what Brian Tatler or Dave Murray might have brought to the table, not to mention an impressive, Steve Harris-like bass performance out of the newly recruited Vasu Chandran and a driving roar from Vijit Singh from behind the drum kit, the Kryptos brand has been maintained in full form on this latest studio excursion.

Pointing to any one song out of the bunch as the highlight of the whole experience bottled up in this opus proves difficult given the consistent quality of each. The opening thrasher “Sirens Of Steel” and the double-kick happy speeder “Fall To The Specter’s Gaze” are mercilessly catchy, yet also hit at a kinetic pace that seamlessly connects the edge of early Metallica with the more vintage metallic fervor of Judas Priest.

Meanwhile, the raging storm that is the title entry “Decimator” crosses over into “Painkiller” territory between the mighty forces of Singh’s double kick work and the rapid fire of Rohit and Lewis’ riffs. It isn’t all about raw speed for this outfit though, as the slower-paced, fist-pumping anthems “Turn Up The Heat” and closing Accept-inspired rocker “We Are The Night” prove just as intense and memorable. A gloriously haunting atmosphere is struck on the short acoustic interlude “Solaris”, reminiscing beautifully on those signature acoustic segments that Metallica was fond of employing in the mid-80s. But the song that truly brings it all to a head and truly embodies what was great about the old days of heavy metal is the driving cruiser “In The Shadow Of The Blade”; just an all-out beautiful display of heavy metal-inspired melodic sensibility with a thrash riff assault on top.

In the grand scheme of not only Kryptos’ more than 20 years in the business but also the broader NWOTHM craze that was kicked off by the likes of Wolf and HammerFall in the mid-90s, “Decimator” is an album that stands tall amid the competition. It wears its influences on its steel-clad shirtsleeve and makes zero apologies for what it is, which is an affirmation and slight expansion upon the titanic accomplishments that came to pass roughly 40 years prior.

It will undoubtedly play well to those inclined towards the speedier side of the heavy metal coin, yet it carries an equally strong affinity for the earliest strides of thrash made circa 1984-86 when Germany rose as the premier European response to the Bay Area sound. It might play things a little safer than some of Kryptos’ prior offerings, but it is by no means a downgrade and should play just as well to fans of the old ways.

Released By: AFM Records
Release Date: July 5th, 2024
Genre: Heavy Metal

Musicians:

• Nolan Lewis / Vocals, rhythm guitar
• Rohit Chaturvedi / Lead guitar
• Ganesh K / Bass
• Vijit Sing / Drums

“Decimator” Track List:

1. Sirens of Steel
2. Fall to the Spectre’s Gaze
3. Turn Up the Heat
4. Electrify
5. Solaris
6. Decimator
7. In the Shadow of the Blade
8. Pathfinder
9. We Are the Night

Order “Decimator” HERE