Daggr is the embodiment of international Metal.
Based in Cyprus, represented by bassist Marios Michaelides (Occult Kenji) and guitarist Leonidas Constantis (ex-Procreate), the band also features Swedish vocalist Alex Michaelsson, English guitarist Peter Hawthorne (ex-Warpath), and Lebanese drummer Ziad El Alam (ex-Kaoteon). The group has announced the release of their debut album, Torn Veil of Existence, in 2025.
When the Depths Stare Back welcomes us with mysterious clear tones, but distortion quickly joins the mix, leading to Pale Face, the first composition where vocals bring a raw Death Metal push to this Old School Thrash. Catchy riffs follow one after another, reminiscent of the 80’s American scene, then leads take us to Echoes of Sanity’s Demise and its disturbing groove, quickly joined by solid, jerky riffing. A hint of dissonance inhabits the harmonics, but the rhythm section strikes hard on its final charge, giving way to The Reflection, which takes up the torch with furious parts, but also light, more ethereal touches that bring a hint of melancholy. We continue with Among the Ruins, which returns to effective riffs and a moderate tempo, but the song doesn’t hesitate to speed up and slow down at will before moving on to Hour of the Wolf and its devastating double kick coupled with more prominent leads than usual. I have little doubt about its ability to get fans of the combo headbanging, while Dawn of Decay also plays on heavier influences, creating a real contrast with the scathing solo and successive waves of acceleration. The Devourer brings us closer to the end of the album with a very lively and direct approach, almost Punk in some passages, while others offer a very natural progression, then Breaking of the Old accelerates the movement once again and places much faster and more aggressive riffs as well as a thick mosh part to close this first chapter.
Daggr knows what it’s doing when it comes to Thrash/Death Metal, playing with an effective Old School approach. Torn Veil of Existence will happily take its place on the nostalgia shelf for fans of the big names in the genre.
75/100