Warfield | With The Old Breed | Napalm Records

 

Warfield, a German trio formed in 2012, has stayed loyal to the foundations of old-school thrash metal while sharpening their edge through relentless live activity and a distinct passion for war-themed imagery. The band consists of brothers Johannes Clemens (vocals, bass) and Matthias Clemens (guitar), along with drummer Dominik Marx. Influenced by thrash royalty such as Tom Angelripper, Jeff Hanneman, and Dave Lombardo, Warfield began carving their path through the underground with powerful live shows, including performances alongside acts like Exodus, Iron Kobra, and Evil Invaders. Their debut album, “Wrecking Command” (2018), introduced a savage and raw thrash sound that combined classic aggression with precision, gaining them notoriety among genre purists.

“With The Old Breed” arrives as the band’s sophomore full-length and their first under the Napalm Records banner. The album marks a sonic advancement from their debut, retaining the blistering speed and punch of traditional thrash metal while offering a more atmospheric and war-focused narrative. The production is gritty and raw enough to satisfy genre expectations while clear enough to allow the intricate drum work and bass lines to remain audible beneath the storm of galloping riffs.

Lyrically, “With The Old Breed” carries a cohesive theme rooted in the historical horror and psychological breakdown of soldiers during wartime—specifically the brutal reality of World War I trench and alpine warfare. Songs like “Lament Of The White Realm” paint violent landscapes not just through the words, but through a sense of pace and pacing that mimics the chaos of the battlefield. The band’s choice to open with “Melting Mass” sets the tone with speed and violence, which carries through the rest of the album without overloading the listener into monotony.

Throughout, Johannes Clemens’ scathing vocals cut through like shrapnel, lending a constant urgency to the songs. Matthias Clemens provides riffing that is sharply articulated and drawn from classic Bay Area and Teutonic thrash influences, leaning into rhythmic shifts that keep the album from falling into predictable repetition. Dominik Marx delivers tight, punishing drumming that maintains momentum while occasionally offering unexpected variations that give the songs breathing room.

Rather than attempting to modernize their sound beyond recognition or flirt with crossover trends, Warfield keeps their focus firmly on the directness of their mission. Tracks like “Soul Conqueror”, “Fragmentation”, and “Inhibition Atrophy” continue the themes of inner disintegration and psychological torment, yet the band never allows these tracks to become overly dramatic or self-important. There is no grand narrative arc, just a steady series of heavy strikes from the same sharpened blade.

The title track, “With The Old Breed,” closes the album with a sense of reverence rather than triumph. It feels like a march through scorched fields rather than a victory parade—fitting for an album concerned more with the scars of conflict than its glories.

This release does not attempt to stretch the definitions of thrash metal, nor does it seek to soften its message. What Warfield delivers here is a calculated blast of fury, one informed by history, violence, and the raw mechanics of the genre’s origins. It remains faithful to its influences without falling into pastiche, and its themes avoid caricature by treating war with grave seriousness rather than fantasy.

Score: 8/10