Battalion - Winter Campaign (2005)

   War obsession is a returning feature in death metal. When bands like Motörhead and Slayer started to write related lyrics commonly, it was still an uncommon topic, but had strong influence the same time. Lately Bolt Thrower and Asphyx expanded this to an obsessed level.
   Probably these tendencies inspired Battalion, who dedicated their complete musical activity to express the brutality of modern warfare. They stayed strictly on old school (killing) fields to play intense, aggressive death metal with deep growling vocal style. Various influences could be discovered in their themes, but the listener have to pay attention carefully to catch the small signs that are referring not only to Asphyx and Bolt Thrower. The band basically preferred groovy themes that are similar a bit to Six Feet Under, but they're often slipping into brutal death hammering. And the sound of "Winter Campaign" may remind to Swedish death. This kind of diversity that could be noticed "between the lines" is very usual at newer old school styled death metal bands, since they having plenty of direct influences in the genre. Battalion is strongly recommended for old school fans.