Barbarian Reek of God Vinyl Album, Black/Thrash Metal with Punk Influences

Raw speed, epic metal, and punk-tinged extremity give Barbarian’s Reek of God a distinct direction for listeners looking beyond a conventional heavy metal sound. This vinyl release is the Italian band’s sixth full-length album, described as black/thrash metal with elements of mid-’80s death metal and metal-tinged punk.

Its 35-minute runtime makes it a relatively focused listen rather than a long session. The supplied details identify the format as vinyl, but don’t specify the number of discs.

Strengths

The appeal here is the combination of styles: Barbarian’s raw, fast approach sits alongside epic metal and rougher proto-extreme metal, with death metal and punk influences adding further context. That gives prospective listeners a clearer idea of the album’s character than a broad “heavy metal” label alone. If black/thrash is the starting point in your search, these details suggest a sound that also reaches into adjacent extreme-metal territory.

The album is presented as the band’s sixth full-length, so it is a specific release within Barbarian’s catalog rather than an introductory collection or compilation. The 35-minute runtime may suit a planned, self-contained listening session. You’ll appreciate it if you want a vinyl album with a raw, stylistically mixed metal identity rather than a release described only in general genre terms.

At a glance

• Name: Reek of God
• Format: Vinyl
• Dimensions: 12.76 x 12.44 x 0.39 inches
• Weight: 8 ounces

The listed dimensions and weight can help when considering shelf or storage space, though the details don’t clarify whether these measurements refer to the record packaging. No track list or disc count is provided, so those specifics can’t be confirmed from the available information.

Who it’s for

This release is aimed at listeners drawn to black/thrash and raw, speed-driven metal, especially those who enjoy hearing related styles overlap. The description points to epic metal, proto-extreme metal, mid-’80s death metal, and metal-tinged punk, that blend may be more relevant to a genre-curious listener than to someone seeking a narrowly defined sound. A practical fit would be putting it on for a short, focused album listen when you want something abrasive and energetic rather than background music with a softer profile.

Compared with choosing an album defined by one genre or a longer runtime, Reek of God offers a shorter listen and a broader mix of stated influences. You may want to skip it if you’re specifically looking for a lengthy album or a style outside the black/thrash and extreme-metal direction described here. The available details don’t provide track-by-track information, so they won’t answer questions about individual songs.

Final verdict

Reek of God is worth considering for vinyl buyers who want Barbarian’s black/thrash sound with the stated additions of death metal and punk influences. Its 35-minute duration gives the release a defined listening span, while the genre description helps set expectations before choosing it. The key trade-off is that the listing leaves some format details, including disc count, unspecified. If you prioritize knowing exactly how the vinyl is configured or want a track list before buying, the available information doesn’t establish those points.