Review NAIL WITHIN ‘Sound of Demise’

Nail Within are an established metal outfit, hailing from Tel Aviv. The band started in 2001 and after a few on/off years Nail Within returned in 2022.

After the debut album hit the shelves in 2003, Nail Within launch the sophomore album 20 years later. ‘Sound of Demise’ is the title of an album that features eleven songs. Thrash metal and death metal, that is what blends on ‘Sound of Demise’ and in a way the band restarted where they left off two decades ago. The new material might be a bit more thrash-oriented and is done with a straight-forward approach. Still there is enough to explore on ‘Sound of Demise’ as it riff-heaviness and versatility. Also melodies don’t fall short, thinking about the solo part of ‘Regression … and the Price We Pay’. The rest of the track is a thundering metal anthem with a strong element of groove.

‘Bleeding Society’ instead shows the more thrash-based approach of the band. The rawness of the early German thrash metal trailblazers shines through and it isn’t surprising that Sodom’s Tom Angelripper contributes with some vocals.

Having mentioned one guest also means that I must update you about another invitee. Testament’s Eric Peterson and his guitar enriched the ‘Years of Madness’ and having these guys on board also speaks for the quality of the album. The song itself is by the way a tribute the LG Petrov and his legacy.

The thrash roots also return in ‘Words as Weapons’ although Yishai Sweartz’ vocals add the death metallic shimmer to it. Then there is the roaring ‘Sever Suffering’ where the band reduces pace and almost ends up in the realms of doom before the melodic death metal influences from Gothenburg are a solid source of inspiration for ‘Isolate’.

Twenty years after having premiered, Nail Within launch their second album which is more mature and elaborate compared with the debut. Yet it includes a strong musical punch that, combined with a good level of variation and twist; offer entertaining 41 minutes of headbanging.