Next time you’re in the mood for some brutal, face-ripping heavy metal then you could do much worse than head for the brilliantly executed thrash/death attack of Intractable. Ostensibly combining the devilishly inhuman vocals of Meshuggah with the furious assault of Exodus and the technicality of Annihilator, Intractable, a four-piece from Switzerland, offer a highly charged and vicious debut album that never fails to ignite the more primal instincts when played at suitably high volume.
Upon placing ‘inner Decay’ into your player you will find no subtle introduction soothing the transition from the tedium of reality into the fast-paced violence of Intractable’s world. Rather you find yourself catapulted straight into the deathly brutality of ‘captured’ – a searing blend of the aforementioned Meshuggah and Slayer. Rhythmic, unforgiving, it’s like being caught in the sights of The Terminator whilst endeavouring to escape through the heart of a moshpit, whilst vocalist and (unusually) drummer Benjamin Kottman barks out his condemnation of your existence. It’s a pitch-black assault shot through with samples that do nothing to alleviate the mood, and it captures a visceral sense of urgency that sets the heart pumping and the heart surging through your veins. ‘No tomorrow’ is similarly charged, cherry picking the best riffs from Exodus, Testament and Machine Head and combing them to craft one monster track that spits and rages with a fury that is tangible. ‘That’s me’ introduces a different feel to the album, a nimble bass line courtesy of Michael Schuler giving way to a track that combines a powerful groove with snatches of melody that recall the gothic grandeur of early Paradise Lost. It’s a welcome change of pace and it highlights the fact that Intractable are far from content to just fit in with the pack, possessing a rather more keen ambition to be out at the front by offering a varied mix of powerful metal that draws its strength and inspiration from over twenty years’ worth of great metal bands. More importantly the band’s lyrical content is thoughtfully written and delivered, referencing political and social problems in a metaphorical manner that highlights the intelligence of the band. The lengthy ‘enslavement’ is similarly a case of the band tinkering with the playing field, the opening riffs drawn straight from the book of doom before giving way to a brutal thrash riff that is part ‘hell awaits’ part ‘galleries of suicide’. The recording, just on the right side of raw, emphasises the huge washes of cymbal that come crashing in, giving the whole thing a glacial feel, and as Beni’s voice gets ever more inhuman he starts to resemble Justin Broadrick’s devastating work on ‘Streetcleaner’, whilst the lyrical content also shares similar themes of brainwashing and alienation.
‘Pure exploitation’ is a highlight of the album – a surging, brilliantly tight riff-fest that will bring a dopy grin of delight to the face of any heavy metal fan, even before the melodic solos wash across the bridge – and there’s little doubt that those infected by Intractable will be fighting an urge to head-bang to this record for its entire duration. ‘The new belief’ is equally ferocious – tapping into the same progressive vein that made early Metallica such a force to be reckoned with, the cyclical riff a dark and dirty beast that hunkers down in the darkness smirking “I’m watching you, day by day, hypnotised by the words I say.” It’s delivered in a salacious manner that will send shivers down your spine whilst the guitars slither and crawl with real menace. ‘Social parasite’ is more straightforward thrash metal delivered with a menacing glint in its eye and a vocal that sounds as if it’s been rinsed with carbolic acid. A short, toxic blast arrives next in the form of ‘down’, a fast-paced beast that pulls no punches as the double-kick assault drives everything forward at a relentless speed, although the band still find some time to slow down enough to throw in some brilliant solo work towards the track’s conclusion. ‘Solve the pain’ is a cathartic release of energy that serves as another highlight thanks to the brilliant opening pairing brutal, full-blooded riffing with some neat fret-work before hurtling into a vicious thrash work out that sounds like Megadeth fronted by George Fisher, although even with such momentum intractable don’t make it that easy to follow, and light and shade is introduced via a complex series of detours which only make the band’s compositional skills appear all the more impressive. ‘Scream for me’ is another neck-snapper – aimed squarely at the mosh-pit whilst ‘the leaders’ is so unutterably heavy it all but leaves the rest of the album in a pile of smouldering ashes with its ferocity. The final track, ‘breaking strength of mind’ is an epic finale that leaves plenty of scope for the band’s future development and leaves you in no doubt that Intractable are a brilliantly brutal addition to the ranks of metal’s dark forces, stunningly combining and assimilating their influences without ever sounding clearly like any one of them.
There is no doubt at all that ‘inner Decay’ is the work of an ambitious band with an eye on the metal crown. Raw but powerful nonetheless, brilliantly written and played; the album combines elements of some of thrash and death metal’s greatest exponents into one glorious package. Elements of Machine Head, Slayer, Metallica, Sepultura, Meshuggah and Cannibal Corpse all fly through the mix and the ultimate result is an album you’ll likely play until your ears bleed. Throw in the perfectly evocative album art and it is clear that Intractable have a huge wealth of potential, of which this is only the first indication. If you’re a fan of metal music then you need to do yourself a favour and track down a copy of ‘Inner decay’ immediately.
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