A couple of months ago I opened my Moshville inbox and found emails from Fireflash Records telling of their g of Holy Moses. I hadn’t heard anything from the Teutonic terrors in a while and their last LP Redefined Mayhem ed me by. Promo emails kept coming revealing that their latest album, Invisible Queen, would be the last. I definitely couldn’t let it me by this time, and it’s been on regular rotation since.
The haunting arpeggios that introduce opener “Downfall of Mankind” give way to a furious thrasher that pulls no punches. The riffing balances simplicity and technicality with ease, keeping the aggression and the hooks to the max. The opener truly sets the tone for what’s to come. The rage continues in “Cult of the Machine” and “Order Out of Chaos”, both bringing in more of Holy Moses’ signature use of dissonant chords with the former blending chugging rhythms with the blasting thrash, and the latter opting for a more deathly edge. Following is Invisible Queen’s title track adds a different flavour with its slightly more straightforward riffing, the main riff in particular with it’s arpeggiated style, mixed with the more melodic chorus. Killer riffs and banging rhythms aside. The guitar solos at this point have been some awesome bursts of shred, seamlessly flowing in the songs. It’s always a standout when the bass shines on an album, and here it brings both a gnarly tone that’s both weighty and present in both riffs and solo moments.
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The tempo and technicality winds down a little approaching the midpoint with “Alternative Reality” with the rockin’ rhythms in the intro through the punky chord bashing in the bulk of the song. The velocity and virtuosity returns throughout the rest of Invisible Queen, particularly in “Visions in Red” which could be a macrocosm of the sound of the album – there’s banging thrash, blasting death, crushing chugs and technical flourishes galore. It’s a lot packed into four minutes but it all flows effortlessly, with each element itself being a killer hook. Following the frenetic is a series of more straightforward thrashing ragers that keep the head banging towards the record’s end. Standout moments come in the chorus riff in “Outcasts” with it’s almost swinging long notes over the thrashing beat, and the solo in “Forces Great and Hidden” where both guitar and bass share the spotlight.
Invisible Queen draws to a close with the duo of “Depersonalized” and “Through the Veils of Sleep” which both play a little with different timings above the pounding beats until the final growl. Frontwoman Sabine Classen’s final performance is arguably one of her best, each growl, groan, shout and scream more intense than what’s come before. Holy Moses as a whole are on top form. The riffs are fresh yet true to the style the band have developed over the years. The music overall has a perfect ratio of simplicity and technicality, but each song in its own way. There’s a lot of technique on display, with cool ideas spanning the axeman’s armoury but evenly spread across the songs, amongst the neckwrecking blasts. Ultimately, the songs are simply awesome, catchy, heavy and interesting thrashfests.
Invisible Queen also features a version of the album with lead vocals by different friends of Holy Moses on each track. It’s a fun addition and celebration of the band to hear, with some of the highlights coming from Overkill’s Bobby Blitz on “Cult of the Machine” and Bloodhunter’s Diva Satanica on “Order Out of Chaos”. Invisible Queen may be the last of Holy Moses, but they’ve gone hard and ended on arguably their best album, one that will make sure they stay banging in your head long after they’ve gone.
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Invisible Queen is available now via Fireflash Records
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