Atomic Aggressor, one of the foundational names of the early Chilean death metal underground, return with their second album “The Occult Forces” — a tight, relentless death-thrash barrage that proves the band isn’t just still around, but is back in the front lines of the genre. The outfit was formed in 1985 by guitarist Enrique Zúñiga, with its two demo tapes of 1989 and 1991 making it a founding name of the scene.
Country: Chile
Genre: Death Metal / Death-Thrash
For fans of: Sadistic Intent, Mortem, Sepulcrum
The listen
Here the band sounds tighter than ever: drummer A. Arkmar (Morbid Cruelty) hits faster than on the previous two releases, the number of riffs is greater, and the approach recalls “The Ultimate Incantation” more than “Abominations of Desolation” in rhythm and punch. The first half of the record is a suffocating attack of blasting and riffs, with “Souls Degradation” opening the curtain with nearly a hundred riff changes and a bass lead.
“The Chalice of Despair” leaves a little room for groove, while tracks like “Forms From the Occult” and “Evil From Beneath” stay solid in their aggression. In the second half, “Dwellers of the Unknown” (with a slight black/death influence), “As I Descend” and the closer “Tormenting Voices” steal the show, bringing back the band’s thrash side too.
Zúñiga’s songwriting remains the great asset: a natural feel for when to push forward, when to cut and when to interrupt himself. “The Occult Forces” is a high-effort intensity without a single compromised or “trendy” moment — exactly what one would want from their name, and a very high recommendation for lovers of riff-hungry death metal.
See also
Sepulcrum – Lacerator · At the Gates – Slaughter of the Soul
