Review: Cruel Force – Haneda

March 24, 2026

The Whips They Are-A-Swinging

Hailing from Germany, Cruel Force started gaining recognition with an impressive debut that was considered a modern blackthrash classic with 2010’s The Rise of Satanic Might. Following on from that, the band went on a long hiatus from 2012 until 2022. When they came back, they started moving towards speed and thrash metal territory with their third effort, 2023’s Dawn of the Axe; it felt fresh and enjoyable and made me curious to see where they go next. Three years later, they continue this new speed and thrash venture with their 4th album, Haneda.

The album introduces itself with a triumphant lead guitar shriek titled “The Cross” that’s a great way to prepare for the first proper track. “Whips a Swinging” is a full-on speed metal throttling; the guitar riffs and pacing are top notch throughout this track. The vocal delivery adds to the continuation of Cruel Force’s speed metal direction and there’s even an interesting hard rock style section here. To continue the one-two punch of heavy hitters comes “Savage Gods,” showing off the bright spots in the lead guitar and drumming, making a great impression. (It’s certainly savage as it says on the tin.) “Sword of Iron” completes an early trifecta of strong tracks, excelling in its use of synth and guitar solos; it also shows off a neo-classical side that’s new to the band, fitting in well with the speed and thrash styles.

Now comes a slower track, “Crystal Skull,” that while more mid-tempo still has a sense of speed in a different way. I like the Middle Eastern vibes in the intro and interludes of this track as well as the full-on guitar soloing throughout. It’s a much better crystal skull than the Indiana Jones film of the same name, nothing alienating here. The band goes back to their full-throttle speed metal riffing with “Warlords;” this song is a real barn-stormer that kills it with a stompy sound to it that adds something unique to the album. The next song, “Black Talon” goes for more of a traditional heavy metal vibe, showing off more range in the vocals as well which makes for a fun and energetic listen.

The band goes back to their ruthless pacing during “Titan’s Awakening” which is just pure speed throughout. The vocals feel a bit grittier here, fitting for the way the song is paced and mixing up the speed and traditional heavy metal riffs. Closing off this journey is the title track, “Haneda,” the longest track on the album at 9 minutes. Despite its length, it’s a strong way to finish off the record thanks to how the guitars feel unique and fantastically paced throughout. The use of gang vocals is also a welcome addition to conclude the album.

Cruel Force overall does a great job carrying on from where they ended with Dawn of the Axe and extending further into speed/thrash metal territory while also dipping into traditional heavy metal at times. This goes to show that despite a change in musical direction, the band knows how to make their music engaging no matter what. The fast riffing recalls Show No Mercy-era Slayer with the thrash mentality of Razor, while also delving into classic heavy metal, making for a unique and memorable cauldron of manic energy.