21st March 2022

Review: “Eat The Rich” by Promethean Reign

Everything went dark for Oxford Blackened Death Metallers Promethean Reign in 2019 following the success of 2017’s debut EP “Aftó Eínai Pólemos” (from the Greek “This Is War“) which brought five cuts of blood soaked material to our ear drums. After 2018 with a show at Fuel Rock Club in Cardiff in support of The Infernal Sea, Deadwood Lake and Saarkoth. November 2019 saw the unveiling of a demo for a new cut called “Dionysus” while a run to the final of the Bloodstock Metal 2 the Masses competition was tragically cut short due to technical issues. Radio silence as if the band had disappeared from existence followed with the band in a seemingly dormant state as if some Global situation had prevented them from moving forward had taken place. Fast forward to September 2021 came the announcement that the band would be returning to the stage for Rabidfest, their first live show in 3 years. A new line up was unveiled with original members TJ Higgs (Vocals, Bass), Jon Arnold (Guitars), Joe Andrews (Drums formerly of Fragment) joined by Kai Boyce (Guitars, formerly of Confront The Carnage) with Ryan Collins (Guitars) having exited stage left…

“Eat The Rich is about the evils of capitalism, its effects on our planet, and its population. It’s a call to recognize the power that people have collectively, and how it’s time to stand up for the rights of the many, to fight for a better world for ourselves” ~ Promethean Reign

Recorded at Studio7, Green Room Studios, Oxfordshire and mixed by Promethean Reign themselves, “Eat The Rich” marks a triumphant return for the band, TJ Higgs vocals sounding like the echo of Wayne Static during the shriller moments, partially down to the enunciation and phrasing style he has chosen for himself as the band smash down the walls of the Ivory Tower with rumbling bass, thunderous percussive battery in classical style and huge riffs. Classical Death Metal at at its finest the sinister edge of the riffs has something of a Carcass feel about it, while the twin pedal attack of the bass rattles around your skull like a bullet ricochet. Promethean Reign are back, a leaner, meaner fighting machine ready to declare War on an unforgiving World, one deadly riff at a time. Joining the new track is a re-recorded version of “The Great Deceiver“, a track which originally appeared on 2017’s aforementioned “Aftó Eínai Pólemos” and is shorter, dispensing with the introduction of the original, instead going straight for the jugular. While part of the charm of the original was in the raw and almost demo like quality, the re-recording benefits from better mixing, mastering and equipment put to good use. The rough edges have been smoothed over and the result is that the beast has new life while the scorching solo and endless chug of the riffs commands attention and raises the hairs on the back of your neck. You have been warned [8/10]

Track listing