I will tell you that after stunning PROTECTOR`s return and their amazing Reanimated Homunculus I was worried whether Martin and his mates didn’t set their bar too high and, in result, it`d be hard for them to compose another equally destructive album in the future. So, three years passed and here we can enjoy PROTECTOR`s new album. While listening to this stuff, I can only say I didn’t need to worry at all. Their previous album wasn’t nothing extraordinary as it happens when bands reactivate and record some excellent stuff at first to feed us with some mediocore shit later. Why?

Because this outfit is a coasted metal machine no one shall be able to stop. Despite new trends and fashions, this very band is one of very few which decided to prove that, in spite of their long inactivity, they still are able to produce the old atmosphere the fans expect and desire. Cursed and Coronated refreshes the old formula of the 80s. And this stuff could`ve been easily recorded after Golem or Urm the Mad. Of course, I am not talking about the verbatim sound of the old PROTECTOR only, but also the riffs. It is absolutely unbelievable how "old-school" this album sounds. It still has got plenty of youthful rebellion in itself, as well as wrath and omnipotent energy. This material is very sincere, it is honest to the bone, full of passion, too. Martin is a real visionary – and his vocal is, after so many years, still very powerful. Another good thing is the line-up has been refreshed. It works well, here. One just listens to these tracks and wonders how powerful they are.

When you listen to Cursed and Coronated, you surely realize this stuff is made by people who breathes classic metal day and night. This album isn’t artificial, but sincere as music originates right from heart. For old PROTECTOR fans this album is just what their souls need. There are no weak tracks on this album. It’s an old school manifesto: this is how METAL ought to sound! It is actually hard to highlight any track as all are equally awesome. This album is very even and of high quality. Xenophobia opens up this record, after a dark and obscure intro, and this song is very dense – almost as dense as stuff from Misanthropy album. Another speedy track is Self-Destruction – no kidding. This song is damn fast. Another blow to the back of your head is Crosses in Karelia, which sounds very Golem`ish…it’s just track 03 and my brain is already cooking.

The title track is pure destruction and I am not surprised this song gave this amazing album its title. This track is catchy all right and though it is slower than others, still does sound powerful. The last cut on side A is Six Hours on the Cross, and this one, I`ll tell you, it is just rad. Martin "whips" his listeners so hard you can almost feel these blows on your face. Base 104 opens side B and this track also tramples you all as fuck. If you didn’t listen to this album on your knees yet, I guarantee this track will make you stay where you are till the album ends. What Michael Carlsson does with his guitar fucking kills…fucking hell, this stuff can’t have been recorded this year, eh? The Dimholt is another precise blow. Good. This sneaky attack on our subconsciousness is brutal and perfect. To Serve and Protect is on now, and I must tell you this track is ruff. Carl Gustaw Karlsson and Mathias Johansson`s rhytm section is just awesome.

In the first part of this track I hear some CELTIC FROST influences. There`s plenty of tempo changes, dense riffs and venom oozing from my loudspeakers. Here and there, you can hear some old IRON MAIDEN as well. This stuff is, as said, very, very oldschool. Thrash metal will never die! And that’s it. Terra Mater is on and again I can hear some CELTIC FROST in guitar parts. This song is unbeleiavably fast, and one of the most brutal ones on the album; and I am 100% positive this stuff kills live. Are we going to see PROTECTOR live here in Poland any time soon, eh?

The Old Boil is very MOTÖRHEAD`ish, that’s true. This good rock n roll fucking drills easily into our skulls and makes me hum it all day long. Simple, but catchy music. Krisitan Wahlin is responsible for the cover art. Awesome! This stuff is 100% natural and proves that even now you can create a really well sounding material, yet still remain the band PROTECTOR has always been. The guitar sound, so filthy and full of untamed energy makes you breathe this music after a while; and when you play it from vinyl then you can feel how spacious this stuff is. No doubt. This stuff kicks ass, really. Wish we had more albums like this one. One of the best materials in 2016, that’s for sure. If you still don’t know this album, go and get it!!!!!!! Get into the magic world of vinyl – I guarantee you won’t regret it, this is a must-have, no doubt!!!!!!!!!!!

Leszek Wojnicz-Sianozęcki