VICTIMS OF CLASSWAR - Invitation to a Funeral (Review)

Written by: Blackie Skulless

God do I ever love a good grower; take that as a double meaning if you must. Germany’s Victims Of Classwar drew me in not only because of the intriguing band name, but also the album artwork. Never mind the fact that black/thrash with a crust/hardcore edge tends to boast some of the nastiest music you’ll get ahold of, but it leaves even more room for interpretation than your regular black/thrash formula (one that I love dearly). This influence is definitely the lesser focus, but considering the band has been active for nearly fifteen years prior to their debut, you can be pretty certain that Invitation To A Funeral is full of long-time rage.

Victims Of Classwar runs with a rather unorthodox presentation that admittedly took more than a listen to grow on me, however getting through that initial phase lets in one of the most interesting and meanest records I’ve heard this year. This isn’t necessarily to say that there aren’t plenty of bands that take this path, but the frontwoman’s vocal approach absolutely pummels you with discomfort and proverbial assault, being the most standout feat. A variation of fairly straightforward blackened shrieks to pain-stricken croaks and degraded howls offer a variety of unsettling feelings that reflect the very perturbing album art. Obviously, the rough production helps this feeling remain, but musically you can definitely tell that there’s a history of dabbling in the hardcore/crust realm.

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Yet, the instrumentation pokes through nicely and achieves just as much. You’d think a record of this style running for over forty-five minutes would run stale pretty quickly, but that simply isn’t the case. Some points nearly teeter on steady rhythm and concise execution, but the dropped, buzzing tones of the guitar still manage to let it feel like a threat. The slower unfolding of “Pigpriest” masters that, before it unleashes an explosive center. I would even argue that the drums play one of the most important roles there, carrying the mood equally during the bass-backed rumble and the blackened blast-kicks.
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​Longer tunes like “Disappointment” fester in repetition while tacking on varying degrees of calm within the storm. Cleaner moments, like the intro of “Homo Homini Lupus” that highlight the leads never let the element of terror go, playing out just like a suspense film before reaching a brick wall of nasty riffing and unrelenting blows. Even the shorter songs hold just as much weight, and it’s a little bit surprising how nicely solos actually come through in this. “Nightshift” may be one of my favorites in that regard, but the brutally fast “Lust For Pain” also comes to mind with its brash and swift impression.

Truly, Invitation To A Funeral feels like just that in the greatest way; a right-of-passage to the grave through the most haunting gauntlet. The German outfit has crafted the rare type of discomfort that I’ll once again compare to Clive Barker’s Hellraiser, where despite this unnerving pit, I want more of it. How one can derive something so compelling from the simplistic influences of black/thrash and crust is a mystery to me, but one I need not worry about. Sometimes I want nothing but beautiful landscapes and pretty melodies, other times I want the music to assault me. This is the latter done perfectly.

Victims of Classwar - Truly, Invitation To A Funeral was released Aug. 24th, 2024. Find it here!

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Victims of Classwar can be found:
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