Italy's gutterpunk thrashers VIOLENTOR created a debut album that still
holds a high spot on my music-listening rotation. The self-titled album's furious
mix of distorted riffs and venomous vocals are both searingly intense
and catchy as hell.
With their second album, Violentor hits the ground running with the
title track ROT. Right away you can feel that adrenaline kick in and
be comforted that Violentor picks up right where they left us on their
debut with a high-octane punk/thrash attack. Why change up the formula
if it works so damn well?
Songs like and Free Spree and Daemonical Tutor are blistering pieces
of work that bring to mind The Exploited type of riffage - except they
take those riffs, push them down in a dirty ally, and kick them around
until they are all bruised, bloodied, and full of grit and grime. In
turn, those riffs do the same thing to the listener, like a twisted
pay-it-forward scheme.
The song Breath of Hate offers a bit more to Violentor's arsenal
with a rather slow and foreboding mid-section, offering a nice dynamic. The album closer The Last
Sentence is a slow grinder, nearly balancing out the non-stop barrage
of balls-out attitude emanating from the previous tracks.
Rot is an all-together mass of kick-ass insanity. I just love how Violentor can make ugly music a thing of beauty.
Listen to the full album below and if you're interested, pick up their CD from EBM Recordshere.
I found myself with a tiny smidgen of time so I thought I'd let you all know that NUCLEAR OMNICIDE have released the title track to their upcoming EBM Records release.
The song is titled The Presence of Evil and it runs a freakin' marathon of pure thrash riffage, ranging from the slow, sick and brooding to the galloping stomp to headbanging ferocity. Mind you, this is all within the first two and a half minutes BEFORE the vocals even kick in!
Benny Raivio's vocals are absolutely sick, offering up a throaty deathrash that fits well with Nuclear Omnicide's venomous music. The music itself is tight and mean as hell. I can't wait to hear the full album!
Word has finally got out that our favorite Norwegian thrashers TANTARA have inked a deal with Indie Recordings, the label who picked up the pieces after the band's falling out with their previous label Ultimhate.
As a taste, Tantara will release a 7-inch vinyl single featuring the songs Based on Evil and Court Injustice.
Unfortunately, there isn't a release date for the full length album Based on Evil, but be assured that it will come out sometime later this year. If it doesn't, I say we should call a mass listening party over at the 'Tara practice place (and if this happens, someone please pick up my round trip ticket from Kansas City. Also, let's hope the Tantara fellas have some food).
In other Tantara news, the band started up their own online forum! Go join the Tantara Community and talk some THRASH!
Meanwhile, jam to an earlier version of Court Injustice!
---------------------------------------------
According to LEGIONARY drumming main man Frank D'Erasmo, he began a side project called Path of Tyranny and so far had four songs written. Well, it seems that the project is no more and D'Erasmo will instead release the new demo tunes under the Legionary name. The demo will be called (of course) Path of Tyranny. D'Erasmo said they will likely be included on the second Legionary full-length album.
That mean Legionary is four songs into the next album ALREADY? Bring it on!
As a fun side-note, Legionary have a few 8-Bit versions of their songs out and about. Take a listen and yearn for some old-school Nintendo play.
---------------------------------------------
Nevada's AVENGER OF BLOOD are kicking ass in the studio as we speak! They are in the process of knocking out a three song EP titled Spawn of Evil, and have plans to shoot a video for one of the tunes.
They are talking about booking shows with their revamped line-up toward the end of August, but, as they say, "Nothing is set in stone yet."
--------------------------------------------- ZOMBIE FIGHTER have released yet another song off their upcoming album Run For Your Life titled Unleash the Wolves. Give it a listen. Or don't. I'm not your dad. (Actually, I am…listen to it!)
---------------------------------------------
In another excellent move by the thrash powerhouse label EBM RECORDS, they added Quebec's own POWERED BY DEATH to the Thrash Is Back series of albums.
If you haven't heard of these Canadian metal men, go check out the Global Thrash Assault Blog for a sweet little review about Powered By Death.
A little bonus here: They have four songs available as a FREE download. Listen below, and then snag the tunes!
Oh, and by the way -- if you are the one or two metal fans who have not yet heard of EBM Records, by all means go check them out and their ENTIRE freakin' ROSTER of thrash bands! They are like a treasure chest for thrash fans.
---------------------------------------------
Australian thrashers ELM STREET are in the process of shredding Europe as you read this, and the fun will continue in July when they team up with NWOTM legends Warbringer and Gama Bomb! AHHHHH, bad-ASS!! The tour dates are:
17.07.2012 - London, UK - Barfly
18.07.2012 - York, UK - Duchess
19.07.2012 - Edinburgh, UK - Bannermans
20.07.2012 - Cork, UK - An Cruiscin Lan
21.07.2012 - Belfast, IRL - Limelight (w/ Gama Bomb)
22.07.2012 - Dublin, IRL - The Pint (w/Gama Bomb)
23.07.2012 - Newport, UK - Meze Lounge
Go if you can. I'll be here in the US on my pitty-pot...watching the following Elm Street stream.
---------------------------------------------
Virginia's POSSESSOR will release their debut album City Built With Skulls on May 23rd through Slaney Records. I know I posted their album cover before, but it is so bad-ass, that I am going to do it again.
Total freakin' METAL! \m/
---------------------------------------------
Speaking of cool album covers, I pimped the new one from TESTAMENT on the Facebook page a couple days ago. Man, this cover art makes me want to hear the new album so BAD. ARGH! Testament, pleeeeease release a new song to keep us satisfied until Dark Roots of Earth finally hits the stores on July 27th (such a LONG wait)!
You gotta hand it to Australia's metal titans IN MALICE'S WAKE because they offer a wall-of-sound assault to kick the ass of any appreciative thrash fan.
I love this stuff! Relentlessly driving riffs move along the song structures to provide a catchy and brutal landscape for the pounding drum rolls and forceful vocals.
If that's not poetic enough to describe the intensity of IMW's music, then I will add that they will kick in your freakin' FACE.
Shaun Farrugia's crushing vocal delivery is a high point for me, reminding me of a cross between Entombed's Petrov and the deathrash version of Chuck Billy.
In Malice's Wake have two releases under their belts (Eternal Nightfall and The Thrashening) and have recently secured worldwide distribution through EMB Records, so be on the lookout.
Or just look below for a couple of my favorite IMW tunes and then check out their Facebook page here.
I was going to save this write-up about Italy's VIOLENTOR for the Weekend Breakdown post, but I simply couldn't wait.
Gravelly and pissed, Violentor has their foot planted firmly on the rock 'n' thrash pedal, storming out like an avalanche of rabid badgers. Their music is a demolition derby of metal, punk and thrash that would make the most hardened Motorhead fan cry for joy.
Violentor's diesel-spitting vocals match the rolling guitar riffs and pounding drums, injecting the songs with an intensity that will rip your head off. Raw, fast, and harsh.
Listen below, like 'em on Facebook and if you really like Violentor, their self-titled album is available here from EBM Records.
