Dew-Scented has, unfortunately, never interested me enough to write a review about them. While they’re good at what they do—Death-tinged Thrash Metal—they’ve always struck me as somewhat unremarkable though I know, outside of my own opinions, that they are good at what they do. And hey, they should know what they’re doing; they’ve been around since 1992…

After releasing a six-song demo and signing with Steamhammer/SPV, Dew-Sentenced released their debut (“Immortelle,” 1996) played with numerous established bands, including Overkill, Morbid Angel, Arch Enemy and Edge of Sanity. Several line-up changes, more tours and albums ensued, enhancing the band’s reputation. Oh, and getting signed to Nuclear Blast didn’t hurt, either!

Anyway, this brings us to the present; “Incinerate” is their seventh full-length album. I confess that I’m not too educated when it comes to Dew-Scented (as I suggested, their songs tend not to really stick in my head), but here we go. Guitarists Hendrik Bache (Dormany Misery, ex-Protector) and Florian Müller provide some really cutting riffs influenced by traditional Thrash Metal, though the band of course has a more ‘new school’ sound overall, with plenty of blasting drums (Uwe Werning) and head-bangin’ rhythms. Enough breakdown and melodies are interspersed to break up the speed, though strictly speaking one couldn’t really describe Dew-Scented as ‘melodic.’ Though basically unchanging throughout, Leif Jensen is definitely an energetic singer—even in the confines of my speakers he presents a real conviction—though some fans with more stringent metallic tastes might find Jensen bordering on Hardcore.

Though, as I said, Dew-Scented’s pieces have a way of rapidly escaping my head, while I’m listening to it I can say I’m quite enjoying “That’s why I Despise you,” “Everything Undone,” “Aftermath” and “Retain the Scars.” Certainly “Incinerate” will be a rewarding album for fans of everything Thrash, as well as followers of this German quintet, but for Metalheads looking for a super original release, this may not be it.

* Clare B.*