UMUR
"Litany" is the fourth full-length studio album by Polish death metal act Vader. The album was released through Metal Blade Records in May 2000. It´s the successor to "Black to the Blind" from 1997 and features the same quartet lineup who recorded the predecessor.
Stylistically it´s also more or less a continuation of the fast-paced and occasionally thrash infused old school death metal of the predecessor and it´s obvious all the way from the opening track "Wings" to the closing track "The Final Massacre", that Vader don´t take prisoners. This is highly energetic, brutal, and relentlessly aggressive death metal with vocalist/guitarist Piotr Paweł Wiwczarek intelligible raw throaty growling in front, fast-paced and heavy riffs, and the incredibly skilled drumming by Krzysztof Raczkowski driving the music forward. If a critique has to be made, the material is maybe slightly one-dimensional in nature, but it´s not a huge issue and the band have wisely chosen that the album shouldn´t last more than 30 minutes. Had it been much longer than that I wold have appreciated more variation between the tracks.
"Litany" features a skilled band performing high speed precision music, and as always I have to give a special mention to drummer Raczkowski, who is an absolutely amazing death metal drummer, adding an organic human touch to his fast playing style, that not all drummers are able to deliver. While the riffs are sharp, brutal, and raw, and Wiwczarek gets the vocal parts done in his usual style, it´s Raczkowski who is the star here, providing the music with an extra spice.
The album features a harsh, raw, and brutal sounding production job, which suits the material perfectly. This is definitely a sound which suits Vader music well. Upon conclusion "Litany" is yet another quality death metal release from Vader and a little more variation in the songwriting department would have ensured the album a 4 star (80%) rating, but as it is a 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is fully deserved.