With the changes that came on 2004’s “The Lair of the White Worm,” I have to say I was pretty excited when the promo for God Dethroned’s new record shot through the door—and I wasn’t disappointed. “The Toxic Touch” picks up pretty much where “Lair of the White Worm” left off, with furthered melodic additions, a real stop ‘n go attack and plenty of crunching grooves. Special mention has to go out to drummer Arien Van Weesenbeek, who for whatever reason chose to eschew constant blast beats—a wise choice. His often complex (or at least fast and varied) hits both mirror and complement the ferocious guitar rhythms.

I was also happy to notice some really tasteful, discreet keyboards on some select tracks. Now, any regular Sacred Embrace readers will know that I am an admitted keyboard aficionado, but I know when synth shouldn’t be employed. However, with the more melodic approach and some seemingly folk-inspired harmonies, the neutral, non-invasive keyboard sounds the band assisted in creating appropriate atmosphere, plus it doesn’t sound like a weakening of the band’s heaviness.

While the music seems to just be getting better and better, the bulk of lyrics didn’t grab me like they have in the past (i.e. Track two, “Hating Life”). Ok sure, maybe these Dutch Metalheads aren’t entering the same stupid-lyrics-zone as Children of Bodom for instance, but since the pieces are so strong, any lyrical discrepancies are really noticeable. Still, I like the continuing diversity in their lyrics, which have gone beyond the anti-Christian texts of yore.

Let’s get the other problem out of the way before I finish this praise sandwich. Although the album has been released with applaudable clarity and warmth—the instruments and melodies are distinguishable, etc—I found Henri Sattler’s vocals a little too dominant in the mix. I keep hearing about how difficult it is to mix Death Metal, and though that may be so, it kind of rubbed me the wrong way at times. With the band apparently putting a larger focus on musical composition, the vocals seemed really…loud, for lack of a more descriptive word, and it was a little distracting from the real meat of the album.

The intro, “Faithless,” starts us off with a rhythmic, suspense-inducing moment with some samples, leading into the aforementioned “Hated Life.” A super song, but again, a little cheesy in the lyrical department. Next up is “201404,” telling some sort of futuristic apocalypse story. It’s another memorable piece with some well-placed guitar leads. It feels a little “Lair of the White Worm”-era, once more illustrating a smooth transition between records. Other stand-out scores include “Wings of Pestilence,” “The Day you died” and “Macabre World.”

A surprise came in the form of “Away from Emptiness,” a really atmospheric, moving instrumental, which builds nicely to a head-bobbing mid tempo. It really should have concluded the album—it sounds so out of place in the middle of the record and doesn’t really connect to the ensuing “Macabre World.”

Anyway, all in all, this is truly a killer record. Kudos goes out to God Dethroned for gaining some more melodic elements without becoming another Gothenburg clone.

Holland’s Death Metal veterans, God Dethroned are here to kick you in the teeth with their sixth release, “The Lair of the White Worm.” I’m not overly familiar with their past efforts, but from what I can tell, the album in question is not a departure from their brutal, heavy style. However, the songs feature more melodic soling thanks to new guitarist Isaac De La Haye. It seems to be unanimous among listeners that this contrasts works well with the chunky, rhythmic style of the songs.

I’ve come to greatly enjoy the album as a whole, though I don’t have a tremendous amount to tell you—it’s a solid Death Metal release from a solid Death Metal band! The bulk of the songs are enjoyable, consistently memorable and contain good lyrics concerning a wide range of topics.

“Nihilism” makes a strong first number, with a fast pace and awesome guitar leads and solos. “Arch Enemy Spain” follows—another favorite, along with the mid-pacer “Stigma Enigma.” These first three are the highlights for me. “Salt in Your Wounds” and “Loyal to the Crown of God Dethroned” also can’t go unmentioned. “rusty Nails” deserves recognition—not only because it’s a good song, but for what it does for the album. As it’s a slower tune, and appears right smack in the middle, it’s a great piece for balancing out the record. Actually, the only song I actively dislike (and avoid) is the title track. I couldn’t say why, but it bugs the hell out of me.

Anyhow, if you’ve enjoyed God Dethroned in the past or want a nice, chunky record to chew on, definitely seek out “Lair of the White Worm.” * Clare B. *