Review: “Kreated In Blood” by Zarraza

“Kreated In Blood is a dream come true. Now we got our own versions of our fave songs but infused with Kazakh ethnic. We not only destroyed these classics with our performance but asked friends to help us and bring some special flavor to the final result. I assure you there is no version of “Raining Blood” like ours! Even if you don’t like it – I bet you never heard anything like that!” ~ Zarraza

Hailing from Almaty, Kazakhstan, Zarraza have had a rich and varied career to date, clawing their way from obscurity to opening for the likes of Rotting Christ, Sepultura and Ektomorf to name but a few. It is fair to say that guitarist and vocalist Nick Khalabuzar, guitarist Dan Eternal, bassist Ilya Morozov and drummer Stas Nassalskiy have broken more than their fair share of boundaries in their time and with this new record they are set to continue that trend. Paying homage to their influences they take on a trio of classic metal anthems, staying true to the spirit of thrash, while weaving in the ancient Turkic instrument; the kyl-kobyz.

This writer has always been a fan of bands putting their own spin on a cut when doing a cover so “Kreated In Blood” preaches to the converted before a note has been heard and that fire is only fueled with vocalist Khalabuzar sounding reminiscent of Jamey Jasta from Hatebreed across this trio of cuts. A blistering rendition of “People of the Lie” by Kreator sets the tone, taking it from a Thrash classic into a jagged edged Death Metal affair that sounds fresh and crisp thanks to modern production and a crushing guitar tone. The solo is a face melting ripper. The band get creative with the drones of throat singing, the twangs of a jaw harp and the piercing tone of the kyl-kobyz all playing their part, each element delicately interwoven into the fabric of these renditions so as not to be overpowering but to bejewel them. While they are less prominent on the opening cut, their rendition of “L’Enfant Sauvage” by Gojira is where things start getting more obviously creative and blast beats and rampaging guitars make the perfect backdrop for that. Each one of these cuts is excuted to perfection, the ethnic elements adding something special and something that you could only imagine Max Cavalera really appreciating as it’s very much in the vein of things he’s done with Soulfly. Talking of taking something classic and making it contemporary, the bands rendition of “Rain In Blood” by Slayer is an absolute Chefs Kiss moment. Fretboard smoking hot riffs as you’d expect, but with a tribal drum sound and elevated to another level. The only surprise is that having previously covered “Against“, “Slave New World” and “Roots” by Sepultura one of those cuts doesn’t make it here [8/10]

Track Listing

1. People Of The Lie (Kreator Cover)
2. L’Enfant Sauvage (Gojira Cover)
3. Raining Blood (Slayer Cover)

“Kreated In Blood” by Zarraza is out 8th July 2022 and will be available over at bandcamp