{"id":710082,"date":"2026-07-25T06:12:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T06:12:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/710082\/"},"modified":"2026-07-25T06:12:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T06:12:16","slug":"ripper-towards-rebirth-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/710082\/","title":{"rendered":"Ripper – Towards Rebirth Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Apparently Chilean death-thrash crew Ripper raised quite a ruckus in the 2014-2017 period with a series of well-regarded hyperkinetic death-thrash albums, the most recent of which was 2016s Experiment of Existence. I missed all of this buzz-worthy carrying on and came to their latest release completely tabula rasa. Sometimes that\u2019s the best way to greet a band with established history, as you bring no expectations or biases developed from past experience. The version of Ripper I encountered on their 3rd album Towards Rebirth are coming off a nearly 10-year layoff to deliver mega-aggressive, speed-drenched death-thrashery of an impressive caliber, reminding of early days Sepultura, Morbid Saint, and at times even Nocturnus (R.I.P. Mike Browning). While it\u2019s safe to say Ripper\u2019s sound and approach are stuck in the late 80s\/early 90s, they attack their assignment with so much wanton exuberance that it\u2019s hard not to get behind the effort and enjoy the ensuing conflagration. But how much raw aggression can a band push out after 10 long years collecting rust and dust?<\/p>\n

After a tasty and brief instrumental opening, Ripper rips it up on \u201cWorld of Darkness,\u201d blasting and thrashing like an industrial meat mauler. But wait\u2026I know that wild opening riff from somewhere, but where? Why, it\u2019s almost exactly the lead riff from Riot\u2019s immortal speed metal gem \u201cThundersteel\u201d! How dare they filch such an iconic piece of New York metal history! Ultimately it isn\u2019t too big a deal, since that \u201cborrowed\u201d riff is consigned to history almost immediately and they blanket the field with numerous other frenzied leads and multiple transitions up and down the tempo dial. This is pure thrash insanity with frenetic drumming, berserk basslines, and vocals that sound like vintage Max Cavalera after bad Taco Bell lettuce. The title track offers no respite with a slick cascading lead riff that kicks names and takes ass as the high-velocity madness runs wild and free. The guitar work is especially inspired, and the commitment to thrashing until death and beyond is much appreciated. The maelstrom of maniacal speed has no let-up, and as Ripper try to rupture space and time, you\u2019ll be treated to nods to the early days of Morbid Angel on \u201cInto the Coldness of Land of Dead\u201d and \u201cThe Source Exterminator,\u201d and \u201cMessage from the Other Side\u201d recalls the early days of Deathrow.<\/p>\n

The biggest surprise is the 6-minute instrumental \u201cThe Secret Dawn.\u201d It\u2019s a throwback to the 80s where such long-winded compositions were normal and almost expected, as bands sought to flex their wank hands to impress the masses. While I\u2019m normally not the biggest fan of such non-vocal shred factories, this one is an engaging ride from start to finish, and it leaves me quite impressed with what Ripper are capable of. Elsewhere, the slightly more techy vibe of \u201cThe End of the Universe\u201d brings the Nocturnus flavor to the airlock, and it\u2019s a fun little ditty. The writing and playing are solid, and though every track is a blast fest, there are interesting musical choices and enough nifty riffs per song to keep the brain engaged. Do the individual tracks eventually start to blur together? Sure, but it\u2019s an entertaining enough blur. At just under 42 minutes, things move too fast for Towards Rebirth to feel overlong, though a minute of 2 could probably be shaved off a track here and there.<\/p>\n

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The boys in Ripper are a talented lot. Patricio Spalinger and new slinger Nicol\u00e1s Young come at you at full force 120% of the time with a cavalcade of ripping, tearing thrash lines and side-quests into zippy old school death grooves. What I like most about their six-string interplay is how it reminds me of so many 80s and 90s bands without really ripping any of them off (minus that whole Riot thing). There are some truly impressive riff and solo moments here, and these cats know how to craft cool, memorable leads that stick. New bassist Tom\u00e1s Barriga plays at a berserk pace, delivering a chaotic low-end rumble that\u2019s very audible and sounds like he\u2019s always on the verge of losing control. At certain moments, his playing begins to sound like a car engine about to overheat, and that adds to the sheer rush of the music. Patricio Spalinger\u2019s death vocals are one-dimensional and often no more than a rough bark, but they fit the style well and detract not at all.<\/p>\n

Towards Rebirth is a rocket ride full of overdelivered speed, and there\u2019s enough raw energy here to power a small town. It doesn\u2019t offer anything new, aside from a very sore ass after all the kicking it receives here. I had good fun with Ripper\u2019s latest, and it\u2019s got me digging into their earlier releases hoping for more of the same. Ripper are reborn hard and mean, and they want to sonically abuse your ears. Let them.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Rating: 3.0\/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Dark Descent<\/a>
Websites: facebook.com\/ripperchileoficial<\/a> | instagram.com\/ripper.chile<\/a>
Releases Worldwide: July 24th, 2026<\/p>\n

\n\tGive in to Your Anger:\n<\/p>\n