So many of the German thrash bands have displayed a remarkable longevity with excellent recent releases, and now Necronomicon have proved they are no exception. Who the hell are Necronomicon you ask? Well they've got a hell of a lot more pedigree than a lot of people realise. After hitting the scene during the first wave of Teutonic thrash alongside their more famous contemporaries Destruction and Kreator, these guys seemed to fade very quickly into near-total obscurity. It wasn’t for a lack of output, rather it was simply a case of their old material having more of a rough appeal than any real lasting value. They’ve been nothing if not persistent though, because aside from a hiatus at the latter end of the 90s, Necronomicon have diligently plugged away at supplying a steady string of always respectable releases over the years. Amongst them, this 2012 effort ranks quite highly indeed.

Vocalist Volker "Freddy" Fredrich is the sole remaining original member in the current line-up, after original drummer Axel Strickstrock departed in 2008. What becomes quickly evident when listening to Invictus is how much more refined the new Necronomicon's approach is. This album certainly represents the zenith of the progression they have undergone over the years. Gone is the rough appeal to which I referred earlier, and in its place you find first-rate song writing and a highly professional, up-to-date production style. What’s impressive is that in the process, they have managed to retain most of the manic energy that German thrash is so renowned for, even if it has become a little watered down by influences from the American bay area scene. In my opinion though, the trade-off actually results in a much more interesting album.

Stylistically speaking, this is straight-up thrash so while I admit the basic elements are nothing you haven’t heard before, Necronomicon sure do make it fun. They’ve been around long enough to understand how to mix up the song structures for the best effect, and the result is something not dissimilar to Hordes of Chaos era Kreator. Throughout the album you're treated to atmospheric introductions and embellishments, while most songs try to mix it up with interesting bridges and melodic breaks. And while they're not afraid to slow the pace up here and there, you still find a track like Upon Black Wings which sound like pure old-school speed metal from a time predating thrash. Their willingness to mix it up isn’t always a clear winner though. Before the Curtain Falls, for example, features an atmospheric intro on which Freddy makes an attempt at clean singing so embarrassing that it will have you cringing like it’s Saturday night at the karaoke bar. Still, generally speaking, the focus on compositional variety is very much appreciated. Also included is a rerecording of Possessed by Evil from their self-titled 1986 album. It sounds brilliant.

The modern incarnation of Necronomicon may not be anything particularly groundbreaking, but they certainly are band worthy of the attention of thrash fans. Regardless of how you feel about their previous accomplishments - or perhaps lack thereof - in 2012 this incarnation has delivered an album that manages to holds its own against some of the best thrash releases of the year. That’s nothing to turn your nose up at.