Maybe one can discuss the „extremely important“ question whether this is Thrash or Death Metal (although, for me, it's Death Metal, without any question). But there's no question about the high level COMMANDER already reach with their debut album. I can't understand the comparisons with Testament, Kreator, At The Gates and In Flames in the info sheet (which is full of disgusting boastings), but let's forget about that, because the music is first class anyway. It often reminds me of some old school Death Metal heroes. From the opener Modern Slavery, we get all the brutality we need so very bad, but it's also grooooving everywhere. And apart from all brutality, there's no doubt about the Bavarian band's technical and musical abilities. And they wrote riffs that go right into your ear. May I just recommend MOD and the two part title track? With the rather depressive Drowned In Sorrow, COMMANDER (who have Midnattsol member Birgit Öllbrunner as bass player) prove that they also can do it the slow way, but I have to say that I like the faster songs much more. Lyrically, they renounce stupid brutality and prefer writing about real problems like the state of nature on our planet and the irresponsible persons that cause this situation. At the end, it's getting more personal and melodic with the trilogy Dead But Alive, but that fits perfectly into the pessimist and angry atmosphere. Absolutely recommendable!