Country: Brazil / El Salvador
Genre: Death Metal
Release: 2024
For fans of: Possessed, Vader, Krisiun, Acheron
REVIEW | Metal Territory
Headhunter DC return after many years of silence and show that, despite the lineup changes, their spirit remains the same. Rise of the Damned… continues the course they began in the late ’80s: death metal with thrash roots, a dark atmosphere and riffs that stand on their history. It isn’t their most extreme or fastest record, but it has that familiar, old-fashioned intensity that made them an underground name in Brazil.
The new lineup brings changes, but the band’s character isn’t lost. The first tracks show that Coimbra has fully understood the riff‑style established by Lisboa, keeping the same punch their records had in the ’00s. The album moves between thrashing death, darker turns, a few speed‑metal passages and some groove riffs that add weight. “Unblessed by the Unsacred” is a characteristic example of how they blend all this without losing their identity.
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There are moments that really stand out: “No Salvation From Above” has great intensity and changes reminiscent of their best era, while “Burn the Book of Lies” and “Gospel of Doom” bring to mind a more aggressive, Vader‑like approach. Nevertheless, the second half of the record loses some of its momentum. Short 2–3 minute tracks don’t connect with each other and leave the impression that the flow drops. “The Dysangelist” is perhaps the weakest point, with a riff that repeats without building anything substantial.
Despite the weak points, Rise of the Damned… is an honest comeback. It has their old energy, it has the darkness that characterises them, and it shows that, even after decades, they can write death metal that stands. It isn’t the strongest record of their career, but it certainly honours their name and will find a place with those who love the Brazilian underground.
