Review HELLDRIFTER “Shell of Inexistence”

Helldrifter is a relatively new band. Founded in 2018 in Stuttgart, Germany, Helldrifter released their debut album “Lord of Damnation” in 2021, which brought the band to the attention of Violent Creek Records. The Hamburg-based label has an exciting portfolio of promising thrash and death metal bands, making Helldrifter a perfect fit for their roster.

“Shell of Inexistence” is the title of the band’s second album, which contains ten songs. Helldrifter play a mix of thrash and death metal, and it’s songs like the pounding “Ark of Doom” that reflect some thrash metal influences. But before we get to “Ark of Doom”, the album starts with “Martyrs of a Dying Age”. An atmospheric intro is what you get to hear first, before a massive riff avalanche rolls over you. Fast and rooted in Scandinavian death metal the song hits you right in the face. The early days of bands like Dark Tranquillity certainly helped the four Swabians to shape their sound. “Martyrs of a Dying Age” is an uncompromising opener and a great tone setter for an exciting album.

Photo: J. Blind

Slower and more complex is “Suicide Strike”, followed by the already mentioned “Ark of Doom”. Helldrifter don’t only rely on a high tempo, which they prove with “Beyond The Grave”. The latter comes with a slightly reduced tempo, while it is the rather repetitive riffing and the vocal lines that generate the intensity of this song. But the quartet also knows how to handle faster metal tracks, which they show with “Deception”. Especially the chorus is massive and a pleasure for headbangers.

The quartet manages to give the album a great flow, as it is an acoustic intro that kicks off “Reckoning In Blood,” leading you into a metal thunderstorm of roaring riffs and sinister vocals. “Flesh From Bone” follows a similar approach before the epic “Shell of Inexistence” heralds the end. The closer is a 7-minute finale that demonstrates the band’s versatility and creativity when it comes to songwriting. It’s a great blend of thrash and death metal that the band puts at the end of the album and thereby sums up what the album has to offer in a great fashion.

Helldrifter is certainly a band to keep on your radar. Their sophomore release “Shell of Inexistence” is a well-crafted metal record that shows passion and dedication. The driving force comes from the heart and not from greed for commercial success. The latter might be a good thing and might come automatically because authenticity is often rewarded. Good stuff from the south of Germany.