Invicta - Triumph and Torment (2023)^{Release ID: 56860}

Alright, back to my Canadian thrash exploration.

I know its been a while since the last time I did one of these, but scheduling changes means that some trends that I really enjoy need to take a backseat for a little while. Invicta just happened to be one of those acts that just fell under the radar, but given the bands ability on this sophomore album, I'm shocked it took this long to get here. Triumph and Torment represents a side of thrash metal that I have been far more lenient towards in recent years, but also never got around to exploring the genre beyond introductions and passing recommendations. Technical thrash metal, like with tech-death, is a genre that is frequently paired with progressive metal since it borrows heavily from that genre with its uncommon time signatures, pin-point precise songwriting and guitar solo noodling. And Triumph and Torment does have plenty of that.

Where Invicta stick the landing for me is that these songs do not sound like a random assortment of riffs that were thought of once while jamming and the band decided they were going to include it on the next album. The riffing does change in style and tempo throughout each track, but they are never these one-and-done techniques employed by so many modern thrash metal acts. Not only are the riffs constant, and make the songs recognizable from one another, but they also rarely sound like audio whiplash. The obvious examples here are on "Embodiment of Infamy" and "Apprentice of Death" where the riffing remains strong throughout an entire tune and they don't resort to solo wankery to hide the fact that they don't know how to end a song.

The cause and effect of this is the songs on Triumph and Torment sound complete. It reminds me a lot of the classic Metallica records from the 1980s; tunes are undoubtedly extended, but as a listener, I never felt like I was wasting my time with these riffs. I could always count on Invicta on bringing back a strong chorus that would connect the extended verse/bridge back to the main theme. All the while it's being performed and produced with a remarkable consistency. The album does have a couple of hiccups in regards to loud/soft dichotomy between songs, but the sound of the record is not only ferocious, but powerful thanks to a strong bass foundation and a tasteful percussion element. 

For me, it is records like Triumph and Torment that make me want to get back into the more extreme side of metal music. Because while this album does sound melodically pleasing, it is far removed from the Anthrax and Testament that I normally enjoy in thrash. As a soundscape, Triumph and Torment is closer to Vektor or early Revocation. Songwriting is closer to that of Kreator. With recent reviews for Skeletonwitch, Carcass and now Invicta, I can start to like technical thrash/death metal instead of just "appreciating" it. And with them being so close to home, I cannot help but wonder what kind of rabbit hole this may take me down.

Best Songs: Battle the Beyond, The Morning's Light, The New Throne, Apprentice of Death, Parasitic Reign