If things would have gone to plan, I would be congratulating Denmark's own BATTERY on their record deal as well as the November release of their new album Armed With Rage.
However, due to some disagreements between band and label, the deal fell through, leaving our brothers-in-thrash without a home for their already-recorded album. Sure, this isn't the first time, nor the last in which a band will wind up in this type of circumstance, but it still sucks all the same. Remember the mess involving Tantara early last year?
So while Battery explores some options, they were cool enough to share a few of their newly recorded tunes, offering up a big bite of what we'll find on Armed With Rage once it's finally released.
Check out the songs below and hit the band up here.
Speaking of new albums, Ireland's ANIMATOR released their new album Blacklisted this past summer. The album crushes with interesting riffage and cool vocals. When I say "interesting", I am not downplaying the songwriting in a smirky patronizing manner. No, it IS freakin' interesting, serving up thrash with pure rock and tastes of punk which add colorful layers of keen madness that is catchy and wonderfully ass-kicking. Songs such as Ultra '53 have so much crammed into it without feeling weighed down. Then we have the tune Manipulator which is a fantastic hard rock/thrash hybrid which actually brought a bit of DEVO to my mind. What the hell, right?
Although it might sound as if Animator is throwing a bunch of ideas against the wall to see what sticks, rest assured that their attempts are solid and pay off almost every time. Also, the stellar musicianship help to make these musical endeavors shine. Damn, those guitar solos are slamming!
So, here's the bonus: Animator has made Blacklisted available as a FREE download on the band's Bandcamp page. Nice! Check out the songs below, and then visit them over on Facebook.
I've been gone a while, and although I am still on my extended break from blogging, I found a little extra time this evening...
...so let me stick my forehead-bruised noggin up from the dark just long enough for it to get kicked clean off my neck by some face-shattering METAL!
First, check out the outright brutal deathrash of the London based band NECRORISER. These guys slam together killer old-school thrash hooks with the browbeating insanity of grave digging death metal. Necroriser headlocks the listener with furiously heavy riffs that march along the fretboard like an army of sledgehammer-wielding zombies. That's right. The combination of headbanging chug and hammering speed make for a blissful savaging of the eardrums.
Check out the band's most recent release "Violent" below and hit the band up here.
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I mentioned SPACE CHASER on my Facebook page a while back, meaning to eventually give the Berlin based band some NWOTM Blog-love in the future.
I love their sound, which seems to have a bit of Gama Bomb worship mixed with the punch of U.S. bi-coastal thrash influences. The riffs are both frantic and catchy, hooking the ear before attacking with a speedy head-battering. Vocalist Siegfried Rudzynski offers a lot of charisma in his delivery, going from clean to rough to high-pitched, all working well alongside the dynamics of the music.
Jam out to the tunes below and if you like 'em, go tell Space Chaser how much they kick ass on their Facebook page. Bands like that, I reckon.
Sometimes I come across a band's demo that may not be perfect in execution, but behind the raw attempt is a spark of pure bad-assery. Such is the case with Santiago's young thrash band PARKCREST.
The band's new demo "Curse" might turn a few thrash fans away at first listen with its rough performance in spots, but looking a little further into the riffs and song structure, one will find a carnivorous budding metal band that offers up a killer, closed-fisted thrashing.
As I jam to Parkcrest's available tunes, I find that other than the occasional loose musical execution, the only true sore spot would be with the vocals. Not that the vocals are all that bad, but in cases such as the chorus to Into The Light, it is apparent that adding melodic vocal lines is not a strong point.
That minor wincing aside, I have to say that the riffs are savage, pieced together into solid songs filled with slamming dynamics and competent guitar solos. Songs such as Dark Magicians and Curse All pull off fast and interesting riffage, engaging me as a metal fan and had me hitting the "repeat" button.
Again, is it perfect? No, but who cares? Parkcrest kicks ass and I'm definitely going to keep my eye on these guys to see how they'll develop in their future recordings.
Check out the tunes below and then hit them up on Facebook here.
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From Athens we have DAMNED CREED, who recently released their new album titled Choose A Side.
These guys flex their musical muscles in head-bangable riffs with nods to Slayer and Overkill. Tunes such as Enemies Among Us and Doomsayers of Greed are thoroughly crushing exercises in fist-pumping aggression. Fast and brutal, Damned Creed pulls off each song with razor sharp precision, handing one back his or her bruised ass after each listen.
At times, the dynamics behind the riff, such as the mid-paced jam at the end of Doomsayers border on an epic feel, making me wish they would keep the momentum running with a two or three minute solo soaring over it all. Sure, such an addition might be unnecessary, but some of these riffs are so damn good, I don't want them to stop!
Give Damned Creed a listen below and then thank them on their Facebook page for offering up their new album as a FREE download here!
Bring on SAGROS, a Colombian band intent on dealing out some gut-punching angry METAL. I was turned onto Sagros after hearing their neck-snapping song Anger Blinds The Mind, which immediately tossed me into a brawl of chugging riffage. The tight intensity of the song had me at the get-go, but the riffs turn to a catchy dynamic halfway through that makes me want to start a makeshift moshpit in my living room, the casualties being my turned-over chairs and bruised shins. Totally metal.
These guys have been flying the thrash metal flag for over 15 years and will finally release their debut album through Hateworks sometime this year.
Check out the tune below and then visit them on Facebook here.
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Now I bring you the majestic ZODIAC CIPHERS, a thrash band that drinks from the cup of Slayerisms, filled to the top with a suicide of power thrash and death metal. Vocalist Kjell Andersson mainly refrains from the "Cookie Monster" vokills, opting for the traditional thrash bark/clean singing. The music however rages with a death metal charge, then switches gears to the melodic, and then offers up some Bay Area aggression before heading back into the grave. It's all a killer mix to piece together into some solid metal songs.
Slam to the music streams below and then give them a "Like" here.
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From Peru we have MAZE OF TERROR, a band that unleashes a sick and thunderous thrash pounding with their new EP titled Skull Crusher. This three-piece specialize in metal that rakes the listener across gravel with guttered riffs and fire-spewing vocals. The song Rival is a chugfest of speedy angst while Hatred and Repression is a tune that offers up plenty of deliberate mosh-worthy moments.
Hold your invisible grapefruits high as you check out the tune below and then visit the band here. If you like what you hear, the band has made Skull Crusher available as a FREE download! Grab it here.
Brutal, brutal, BRUTAL. Winnipeg's BESIEGED hit that sickening sweet spot of kick-ass death-tinged thrash metal, making me shake my head in ecstatic disbelief. As I listen to their debut album Victims Beyond All Help, I am blown away by the sheer power of each song, belted out with uncompromising ferocity in attitude as well as musical competence.
Battering my ears with unmercifully fast riffs and bloodthirsty vocals, Besieged brilliantly intertwines the old-school deathrash of early-era Sepultura with the frenzied brutality of Demolition Hammer and Guillotine. Offering no time to catch one's breath, the band's debut storms the listener with thrash metal that sounds fresh as it does violently PISSED…you know, as it should be!
Indie label Unspeakable Axe will reissue Victims Beyond All Help on July 9th (it was previously self-released by the band), and if they can afford the band substantial reach within the metal community, I believe we'll see this album on quite a few "Best Of" lists for 2013.
Damn. Good. Metal.
Listen to the tracks below and then hit them up on Facebook.
LEECH, a New York metal band, utilizes many influences to solidify a sound that is absolutely face-melting. And I love to have my face melted!
The blend of east coast thrash and hardcore is brought to life with a strong injection of crushing Swedish death metal (sans the "buzzsaw" sound). Leech's merging of these genres sounds natural and effortless, resulting in a most brutal ass-kicking.
Vocalist Christian Geraldino fits Leech's musical delivery like a glove, offering up a touch of hardcore rhythms and gang shouts to complement his throaty thrash and death metal vocal assault.
Leech provides music to which a metal fan can positively RAGE. Wanna rage? Good! Check out the tunes below, download 'em for FREE, and then visit Leech here.
I need to thank Cat H. for pointing me toward Australian metallers METREYA. Based on their one available song, I am now waiting impatiently to hear more, more, MOOOAR!!
With their self-titled tune, Metreya invoke the stomp of Anthrax with killer doses of Slayerisms and Testament. One can even hear slight touches of power thrash sewn into the audible fabric. I dug everything I heard, but it was the songs mid-section of stellar fast riff gallops and moshable rhythms that brought it all together.
A nice piece of ear-damaging brutality, one which I hope will be followed by equally kick-ass mass of bludgeoning thrash metal.
Check out the tune below and then hit Metreya up here.
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Thanks again to Luuk Hoogland, who originally brought my attention to bands such as Brazil's Maniac Force, among others, has brought yet another gem to light.
Here we have the speed metal mania of EVIL INVADERS. These Belgium metal men excel in unreal riffage of insane acceleration, and foundation-shaking solos to give the droopy-eyed jaded metal fan a kick in the ass.
Vocalist Jöe Anus eats lightning and jets out sonic weapons of pure, thunderous METAL. My God, this stuff kicks ass!
Check out the tune Driving Fast below and then keep tabs on Evil Invaders here for updates on their new EP.
A big thanks to Social Bomb's own Kenneth Huerta for pointing me toward Australian thrashers TERATORNIS.
Let me start off by saying these guys pummel out some straight-up kick-ass thrash metal. When I first heard their music, I marveled at how well the riffs stuck with me as I slammed through each track, breaking my neck the whole way through.
Guitarists James Lewis and TT Nugent work with a ferociously tight style, offering up fiendish gallops and brain-bashing e-string chugs. Sure, lots of guys can gallop and chug-chug-chug, but the Teratornis fellas craft some very creative, catchy, and thoroughly bad-ass riffs without getting all math-tech in their approach.
I really dig the tunes I've heard so far, the highlights being Notomelus and the band-titled track Teratornis (which, to these ears, sounds as if Evile and Gama Bomb had a baby…freakin' KILLER).
Teratornis boasts some skillful thrash-writing abilities and I urge you to give 'em a shot. These guys need to be discovered! Check out the tunes below and then hit them up on Facebook.
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Thrashing from Guadalajara, Mexico, we have the mighty IRON FORCE. Their only available song Artillery is a pissed-off and in-your-face hammering of intense death/thrash metal, and it literally FORCED me to sit and write…something about it, dammit!
With a few clever curves, blasting riffage, and locomotive drums, this tune is a display of forceful and rigorous attitude. Vocalist Erick Beltran's sound brings to mind a more thrashy Karl Wiletts (of Bolt Thrower).
It's a bit difficult to comment on the band based on one song, but Artillery has definitely made me want to hear what else Iron Force has to offer. What do you think? Give it a listen below, and if you think it's as bad-ass as I, go tell 'em on their Facebook page.
For fans of pure, drunken, dirty, and mean as sh*t thrash metal, look no further than the Texas monsters known as VITAL GORE.
Contrary
to what the name suggests, Vital Gore are not death metal, although you
could add hints of early death into their influences as well as various
sounds from the punk/crossover and Slayer camps. Vital Gore hammers it
all together well, in a mass of aggressively raw metal.
Songs such as The Locust, Beerinator, and Womb are searing pieces of
pissed-off thrash. To find the more swaggering Slayer influences, check
out the kick-ass insanity of Wait For Death.
Maybe you've heard
all this stuff before, but when it's done with an obvious hunger and
topped with killer riffs, their tunes become a killer fist-pumping time
killer.
With each additional listen to their demo (appropriately titled
"Demo") I become a bigger and bigger fan of Vital Gore. You can, too,
because these Texas madmen are offering up Demo as a free download!
Listen to it below and then snake it here. Hey, Vital Gore has a Facebook page!
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Ireland's crossover metallers HOLLOW TRUTH lean way more
on the hardcore side, but there is plenty of thrash influence injected
into the music as well.
Yes, many grooves and breakdowns are to
be found throughout, but a big bonus that separates Hollow Truth from
other Hatebreed clones is the Mike Muir-esque vocals used instead of the
typical gruff quasi-death barkings normally iced over these types of
tunes.
While they are not reinventing much, nor do they need to, but Hollow
Truth does indeed include some ear-catching arrangements, particularly
in the song Terrible Winds. Personally, I'd like to hear these guys go
balls-out fast on a few tracks to keep the dynamics flowing from song to
song, but that is only a minor beef.
If your down for some face-stomping heaviness, check out the goods
below and then download them here for FREE! Afterward, go pay Hollow
Truth a visit here.
With their album At the Edge of Sanity, California's DESECRATE slam together some tasty modern metal, leading the listener through a gauntlet of galloping aggression and epic melody.
The twin guitar work of Nick Simile and Chase Becker work so well in Desecrate's music, carving out some melodic thrash riffage with a power metal edge. The lead work, sewn in perfectly with the dynamic rhythms are spectacular, crisp and articulate in its execution.
Highlights include Fury Within and Repent, the latter containing a stream of killer stomping riffs that come together with the vocals to tell a story of sonic brilliance.
Other songs such as Erased is both haunting and ass kicking, filled with tranquil sadness and soaring exhilaration.
Vocalist/guitarist Simile mainly clean-sings throughout At the Edge of Sanity, at times sounding as if Dennis DeYoung is trying his hand at pure metal. If for some reason that sounded like a back-handed compliment, it's not - the guy knows how to bring it (even with the death growls), fitting Desecrate's music like a spiked leather glove.
This is the kind of metal that I like to crank and marvel at killer musicians displaying their chops with dynamic arrangements, pristine playing, and just plain well-written tunes to wreck my freakin' neck.
Check out the METAL below and then hit Desecrate up here and here.
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In the metal world, there are a few "Aggressor" bands out there, but here I am focusing in on Mexico's own AGGRESSOR (A666RESSOR). If anything, I can't help but love the sound of these guys, cranking out thrash reminiscent of early Kreator and Schizophrenia-era Sepultura.
Their song Social Virus is pure thrash brimming with palm-muted power chords, pissed vocals, and a raw, grainy sound that screams 1986. Or 1987. Whatever, it kicks ass. Even their video for the Social Virus appears vintage.
Check out the video below and then visit them on Facebook.
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Alright, let's get really, really raw now. I happened upon the crossover UK band TOXIC RITUAL while doing a routine thrash search. At first listen, the production of their demo songs was a turn-off, offering up a rather weak guitar sound instead of the fuller mass of controlled distortion this type of music desperately needs.
However, I made it past the first song Rise of the Merzombies, which is a good thing considering my interest had at first been tainted by the recording.
By the time the chorus for Toxic Manifesto hit, I was rocking to these guys in full force. As loose, raw, and at times, sh*tty sounding the demo tends to be, the band Toxic Ritual freakin' ROCKS!
The riffs and dynamics in their tunes wear their influences well, and in a live setting, I bet they could set the place to flame.
Fans of punk/crossover thrash take note because once Toxic Ritual get a quality recording out to the masses, it will be a mosh-worthy addition to your collection. I can't wait to see where these guys take it from here.
Listen to the goods below and then check them out here and here.
Over in Wincher, VA, there be METAL going by the name of ANIMAS.
Listening to their new EP titled Blood on the Iron, fans of power thrash
will find much to enjoy. Maiden-esque guitar gallops merge with epic,
moody solo sections while vocalist/bassist John Habuda flips from a
rough Mustaine-sounding vox to demonic screams.
Most of the music is slow to mid-paced grinding metal, mixing plenty
of melody with the aggression, but there are definitely moments of
explosive thrash to keep the dynamics popping. The twin guitar work of
Kyle Luttrell and Kory Campbell kicks mucho ass, bringing to mind a less
frenzied Chris Peterson (of Cellador fame) style - and such, turned a
lot of Animas's music into pure ear candy for yours truly.
Give ANIMAS a shot by listening to the tune below and then visit them here.
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For a more abrasive direction, let's check out Australia's crossover thrashers DSMB. Their self-titled EP was released last year and I'm pissed that I've only recently discovered these guys.
DSMB's 6-song quick blast of face-shattering crossover first caught my attention with their relentless homage to old-shcool thrash/punk, but then thoroughly kicked my ass with their catchy, slammin' riffage. DSMB show diverse influences all over the thrash map (hints of S.O.D., Slayer, Municipal Waste, and even Vio-lence), but always with a foot planted in the crossover sub genre, helped along with vocalist Boskie's pissed-off and on-target delivery.
Over repeated listenings, I love the self-titled EP more and more. Check out the songs below and then hit up DSMB here where you can download a few of their songs for free, or stream the entire EP here.
How might one get a grasp of what California's Prainbork is shelling out? Geez.
This is an epileptic attack mix of punk and metal bubbling with video game aggression and surreal humor. The layers of odd brilliance shine through in each song as Prainbork mastermind Art Bertik-Marquez channels his inner Mr. Bungle with nods to 50s rock, avant-garde jazz, and industrial, all peppered in a multi-genre mass of mind-blowing metal.
Prainbork's album A Wrench Short of a Baker's Dozen is driving and thunderous, with touches of atmospheric ghostliness and cartoon insanity. This is what it must have been like in the mind of a late-70s era Robin Williams.
Check out the songs below and hit Prainbork up here.
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Back in 2008, in good ol' South Yorkshire, guitarist Niall Roberts assembled the thrash building blocks for the band Septic Fatality. Four years later the public finally gets a taste of their upcoming EP titled Into the Tomb.
Sure the title of both the band and the EP scream death metal, but Septic Fatality are simple-yet-effective, pure thrash. As for the taste of their upcoming EP, ever since I heard Septic Fatality's tune Sadistic Maniac, I find myself going back over and over again, listening to their only available song like an addict. Is Sadistic Maniac a wheel-inventing thrash tune? Not by a long shot, but dammit, everything about it rocks. The raw production, the mind-infecting riffs, and the shout-along vocals offer the listener some horns-up thrash injected with small doses of Municipal Waste and Gama Bomb. What the song lacks in gut-punching dynamics, it makes up for in bare-bones attitude and catchy guitar chugging.
I'm ready to hear the rest of the Into the Tomb!
Listen to Sadistic Maniac below and then visit Septic Fatality here.
I haven't had a new Weekend Breakdown post in a while, so let's kick one out early this time.
Also, let me add that if you have some time, make sure to comb through the rest of this blog and check out the ton of bands I have featured over the last couple of years. Sure you might not like all of 'em, but I guarantee there will be a couple gems in there that are destined to grab you by the throat. That's why you're here, right?
Right! Let's get on with it!
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Eeriness abound, we have the three piece thrash-influenced metal outfit called SERPENT CROWN. This San Francisco based band boasts a terrifying sound built from the driving riffs and otherworldly screams from guitarist/vocalist Dara Santhai. Current Death Angel drummer Will Carroll keeps the mass of fuzzed-out thrash rock on track.
Serpent Crown may not be traditional thrash metal, but they definitely have the thrash DNA weaved into their music, which also blends in small amounts of hardcore over the outpouring of heavy, atmospheric rock. Completely bad-ass.
Dara's vocals are both harsh and spectral at once, injecting a haunting characteristic into the music that carries her voice like a magic carpet that is destined for the abyss.
Heavy, fast, and at times, unearthly, one must check out more than one song to get a grasp of what they are offering.
Listen to their tunes below and then hit them up here.
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Now let's head on over to San Antonio, Texas to check out the brutality of old-school thrashers AGGRAVATOR! Influenced by Kreator, Venom, and Slayer (aren't we all?) these guys hammer out blistering thrash with traces of death metal.
The songs are well thought out with bursts of speed and pure headbanging fury. Vocalist/rhythm guitarist Derek Jones is freakin' killer, spewing forth a sound like a thrashier Schuldiner/John Tardy mix.
Jesse Lopez's guitar solos are well-placed, sounding clean, killer, and purposeful to the music.
Well done! I'd love to see these guys live.
For now, however, I have to jam out to their tunes below and you should, too! Afterward, go tell 'em hi on Facebook.
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Let's get into some Canadian crossover with the thrashin' styling of MEATHOOK!
With their album Hymns of the Divine Drunks, we are treated to unabashed party/beer/pizza thrash that has no problem kicking the asses of fans that dig this spectrum of the thrash machine.
The music is fast and loose, with some kicking metal and punk riffage throughout. Beyond what one would expect from Meathook's brand of thrash, there are definitely bursts of sick genius to be found, such as in the songs Scumbum and Fat Kid on the Toilet.
Check out their tunes below, have some drunk, thrashing fun, and then visit Meathook here.
Freakin' energetic as all get out, Israel's thrash attackers DARK SERPENT
assemble songs full of fantastic hooky riffage and satisfying dynamics.
These
guys have had time to hone their craft since Dark Serpent began way
back in 1997. They recorded an EP in 2000 and after their attempt at
recording a full length album in 2006 fell through, they finally hit the
studio in 2010 to put together their debut album titled M.K.C. (Mass
Killing Convention) for a 2011 release date.
So 12 years to get out a debut? That's one long road, but in the end
it paid off. The songs I've heard off M.K.C. made me sit here on my
computer and spew all kinds of thrash fanboy yammering about just how
kick-ass Dark Serpent happens to be.
In addition to all the thrash insanity that Dark Serpent expertly churns out, these guys add some healthy weight to their songs via
impressive musical prowess. Lead guitarist Giardello Caravagio's solos
are well-crafted and the music-only sections in songs such as Siatha
De’shmaya are fun as hell to experience.
So check out the tunes below and thrash out! If you like it, you can
purchase M.K.C. here and then keep up with Dark Serpent here.
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Sweden's ENTRENCH offers up some hard-hitting thrash with melodic twists
and a freakin' cornucopia of slamming riffs to cause serious neck PAIN.
Guitarist/vocalist
Fredrik Pellbrink can hammer out catchy hooks and rhythms, filling each
Entrench song with savage doses bad-assery. Off their Inevitable Decay
album, songs such as Portrait of a Phobia highlight the array of riffage
that Entrench can successfully weave into a song, bringing to mind
Schuldiner-style DEATH as well as hints of Obituary-style stomp.
Other songs such as Into Oblivion and Blind Illusion use headbanging
dynamics to the fullest extent as the lads keep the speedy and
half-time rhythms tight and furious.
As I listened to the full
Inevitable Decay album, I couldn't keep count of how many times I kept
saying, "Killer!" or "Bad-ass!" or "ERMAHGERD" or…well, you get the
point.
Check out the tunes below and then hit them up here.
Canadian thrashers WARSENAL had me floored with some lightening-in-a-bottle ideas that made the riffs on the classic Megadeth and Metallica albums kick so much ass.
Mathieu Rondeau’s flying riffs are Mustaine-worship through and through, and damn! they are ambitious as hell. The song structures could be lifted right off Kill ‘Em All, albeit a bit more stripped down and loose.
Warsenal went to the roots of thrash and scored well. The ideas are there, the riffs are blistering, and they even found a way to snatch that old-school SOUND. So what’s the downside? Well, it’s a matter of taste here really, and the taste comes down to vocals.
Let me first say that the vocals do not suck. They don’t. In fact, they remind me of a less nasally Dave Mustaine (which fit perfectly with Warsenal’s riffage). What bugs me is the delivery in the vocal pattern is extremely forced in certain places, causing a noticeable and jarring break in the vocalist’s flow (example would be the vocal intro to Unstoppable).
This is a minor quibble when taking Warsenal’s music as a whole, which is thunderous and driving, allowing fans of classic thrash to dive in and enjoy. To me, Warsenal is soooooo close to creating close-to-perfect classic sounding thrash. Music that could make legions of metal fans take notice with an audible “Holy Sh*t” on their lips.
My hope is these guys will continue to grow, iron out the rough spots, and deliver an album that will set the thrash scene on its head. They definitely have the song-writing chops to pull it off.
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A big thanks goes to the Thrash Maniacs blog for turning me on to France’s VERBAL RAZORS. This thrash-heavy crossover outfit pummels out short bursts of snarl-baring aggression.
What I really love about these guys is the hint of pure rock ‘n’ roll infused with the thrashing madness. Cannibal Vegan is a perfect example with its Motorhead-like speed and hard-hitting rhythms backing up the quick solo.
Thrash fans can pick out many things to enjoy with Verbal Razors, from Exodus and Testament-style riffing, to Violentor-style simplicity, all wrapped up in a rough and tumble punk attitude.
The bonus to all this awesomeness is that Verbal Razors have made their EP Settling of Scores available as a free download! Completely kick-ass.
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Heading over to Ireland, we have the eclectic metal men APACHE GUNSHIP. As opposed to bands such as the aforementioned Warsenal, these guys are not traditional thrash by any means.
To be sure, they are definitely influenced by thrash, but then add hefty doses of rock, prog, and doom to round out a sound that is catchy and crushes at the same time.
Based on the one available song Unleashed, Apache Gunship utilizes their influences successfully in a slab of meaty songwriting. Well done! Vocalist Warren Boyd goes from death vox to 70’s soul rock to 90s Alt rock and back again, embracing the varied styles that seamlessly flow throughout the music.
Maybe Apache Gunship is not for the thrash purists, but if you like heavy music in general, check these guys out.
Right now, they are offering Unleashed as a free download. Listen to it below and if you're interested, go "like" 'em on Facebook!
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Hell, yeah! Belgium's XPULSION thrash out with chunky, catchy riffage, head-bangable gallops, and raspy metal vocals that bring to mind Devastation's Rodney Dunsmore.
Although their EP, titled War is Imminent, hinges on old Bay Area thrash, there are hints of old-school crossover bleeding into the sound, making some of Xpulsion's rare left-field nuances palatable to the songs. Sure those nuances, such as the off-color guitar runs in Anaconda Plan, might make you think "What the hell?", but these instances don't take away from the overall bad-assery of Xpulsion's music.
What's freakin' cool about Xpulsion is their ability to combine various influences into seamless, catchy chunks of thrash. They successfully add hints of Megadeth and Schuldiner-style prog to the driving e-string chug, knocking the songwriting up a notch. Also, the openers to songs such as Black Pearl and Welcome to Yourself show Xpulsion harbors killer ideas of how to add atmosphere to the madness. Man, this stuff is kick ass!
Most thrashers outside of Sweden know of the metal band THE LAW, they just don't know that they know.
Why I say such crazy things is because most fans of thrash metal have seen the stellar documentary GET THRASHED and have heard The Law's song Anthem played over the credits.
It is that song that led me to The Law, and since they kick all kinds of ass, I am bringing them to you here.
Their debut album Distorted Anthems from the Suburbs musically hit on many levels within the metal sub genres. Although their home base is grounded in thrash, one can hear groove, power, and traditional metal weaving throughout the album, taking the listener on a killer ride.
Vocalist Tobias Jansson is one hell of a proficient front man and his seemingly effortless delivery is freakin' impressive to say the least. While he is a blue-ribbon cog in the THE LAW machinery, the rest of the band is nothing to sneeze at. These guys eclipse most with catchy, hard-hitting metal.
Check out all the tunes below and then hit them up on good ol' Facebook.
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A big thanks to Luuk Hoogland from the band Insufficient for tipping me off on the next band. For a "bunch of stupid kids making noise" NUCLEAR DEVASTATION does a damn good job at making that noise kick your ass hard!
These guys excel in cranking out short, distorted tunes of punk-fueled thrash. Their album Visions of Fear tear one new asshole after another in the rawest possible way with searing venomous ire.
Is there a ton of variety between each song? Not really. This is power chord hammering to the simplest degree, and there nothing wrong with that. However, when Nuclear Devastation affords themselves a little more time, like in the song Arise, they are able to expand with mid-section riffs that add some color to the madness.
Visions of Fear is a solid foundation for a group that consists of guys who are approximately 16-17 years-old. It's not always a young man's game in finding that harsh and furious line to propel this type of music, but I'm sure it helps. Thank God these guys can play their instruments well enough to harness that energy properly.
If you're interested, Nuclear Devastation have gracefully offered Vision of Fear up for free here.
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I freakin' love old-school death metal, so when I crossed digital paths with UK metallers SEPREVATION, I was hyped! From the tunes I've heard, these guys don't opt for the br00tal grind (which I also love), but instead keep their feet planted in speedy deathrash, with healthy doses of Sadus and old Death worship bleeding into the music. When they do take a breath from the speed, such as the mid-paced Cannibal Corpse-like stomp in the middle of the song Prophet of Death, it kicks the tune up to complete bad-ass levels of heavy.
Seprevation is fast, tight as hell, and death metal as f*ck. They are also cool enough to offer up two of their songs as FREE downloads. Check them out below and then hit them up on Facebook.
Germany's REACTORY blast the listener with a gritty thrash sound that incorporates bits of Toxic Holocaust, Slayer, and Bolt Thrower. The music is noisy and painful, like vomiting sandpaper and claw hammers (…in a good way). The headbanging riffage stomps along with small left-field licks thrown in for color, and although the solos aren't anything to freak out about, the songs remain harsh and interesting.
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Bay Area, teutonic, and crossover sub genres are touched upon throughout BURNING NITRUM's Pyromania EP, delivering a pounding storm of killer riffs. At times the songs feel a little loose and raw, but they still kick ass nonetheless. Tracks such as Death is Upon You offer up a perfect balance of crazed speedy abandon and solid headbanging thrash. From what I read, the members of Burning Nitrum were all around the age of 18 when they recorded Pyromania, making this debut EP all the more impressive. Again, although the tunes could be tightened up a bit in the studio, the songs still feature parts of stunning maturity and killer songwriting. Burning Nitrum can only get better from here.
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To break from the norm, let me introduce you to Brandon Duncan, a one-man show with his multi-genre-colored metal project titled THE SEQUENCE OF PRIME. Holy crap! The listener is sonically assaulted with a wall of sound comprised of industrial-tinged thrash and grind, sweeping everything into a vortex of chaos and aggression. The unwary may wonder just what in the hell Duncan is doing, but once one emerges within The Sequence of Prime's music and views the canvas from within the insanity, an appreciation builds for the complex arrangements and raw passion of creation.
Breaking well away from the verse, verse, chorus, verse, chorus variety, this music is not for a playlist on a casual Sunday drive. No, this music is surgery without anesthesia. It's scary and agonizing, but good for you in the end.
Check out the tunes below, and if this is something that settles well with your palate, you can name your price (even free) to download TSoP's available albums here. Check 'em out on Facebook here.
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Heading back to Germany, we have REFLEXOR, a band I pimped on my Facebook page a while back. These thrashers have recorded one of the most satisfying EPs I've heard in a while. The EP, titled Revenge of the Mycosis, is full of teutonic thrash metal that may not be reinventing the abacus, but the songs are solid and furious. The tunes benefit from plenty of thought into the arrangements and dynamics to offer up the ass-kicking all thrash fans want in their listening experience.
Great riffs, harsh vocals, and nicely laid-out solos make Reflexor's Revenge of the Mycosis a great find. The bonus is they are offering it up as a FREE download!
ARKAYIC REVOLT
These Canadian beasts have been hammering out melodic thrash since 2008.
Drawing influences from all over the thrash map, from Testament to
Kreator to Pantera, the songs Arkayic Revolt construct are heavy, fast,
passionate, and completely well-rounded.
Songs such as Blood Will Follow Blood and Tread the Blade are scorching
monsters that could absolutely be contenders as modern thrash classics.
For lessons in killer riffage, check out the insanity of Maniacal
Infestation.
Their new song Innocence Has Died is a catchy melodic metal number that
sounds like Arkayic Revolt's take on Ritual-era Testament. Stunningly
well done.
Check out their tunes and if you like them, give them a Likehere.
------------------------------------------------ NEKROFEIST
These Australian metal heads jam out with some thrash-influenced groove metal. With a set of clear, yet aggressive, vocals and straight-forward hard rock riffing, I could imagine some of their tunes (such as Choke and Destroyed) played on metal/rock radio. That is not a "tr00 metal" dig on the band as it is a testament to Nekrofeist's ability to construct some well-written metal tunes.
Songs such as Government Ruins brings the thrash influence to the forefront, jamming killer galloping guitar work mixed with grooving Trouble-esque riffs. This song crushes!
Listen below and then keep up with Nekrofeist here.
------------------------------------------------ MASSIVE ASSAULT
Holy crap! You want HEAVY as HELL death METAL? Of course! From the Netherlands, Massive Assault takes the shell of early Swedish death metal and injects a heaviness into it that is frighteningly bad-ass.
When listening to their songs, the influences are undeniable, and although many great bands have followed suit in this sound, Massive Assault are definitely their own animal and are far from tired-sounding. This is world-leveling death metal, churned out with a full fist-swing of blood-drawing conviction. That's right.
If you have any love for what old-school death metal is all about, freakin' listen to Massive Assault now! Below is a giant list of songs to dive right into...
...and then, you know, check them out on Facebook. Yeah!
Hey, it's the weekend! Let's start cranking up some killer thrash (death and crossover) bands that have recently caught my feeble-spanned attention.
The New York and Jersey areas have always housed great metal, and with bands like The Donner Party, Legionary, and even the legendary Overkill, I can't get enough!
Well the endless stream of harsh Northeastern metal continues to flow with EXORBITANCE, a band full of sickly-tight musicians who hammer out swirling melodic death metal. Can death metal be…beautiful? Oh, crap, I scared you off. Come back.
What I mean is that there are parts between the chunky, atmospheric guitar work and venomous vocals that wrap around songs so haunting and well-constructed. Yeah, it's bad-ass. The mix of thunderous anger and symphonic power contained within each song brings an aura of gravitas that could bring a tear to your eye.
Uh, that is, if you're a total puss. No tears here, though. METAL!
If you're a fan of melodic death metal, give Exorbitance a few minutes of your time, and if you like 'em, give them…well, MORE minutes of your time.
Check them out below and then hit them up here and here.
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Let's jump over to Russia for some explosive crossover! SIBERIAN MEAT GRINDER wield the weapons of hardcore punk and metal in their album Hail to the Tsar to obliterate with sonic barbs of pure aggression.
These guys aren't just another Municipal Waste or S.O.D. knock off. Yes, they are grounded with the roots of pure hardcore, but when S.M.G. whip out some left field jam riffs like in the song Chainsaw in the Dark and Laughing in Your Face, and use it to slam-worthy perfection, they succeed in building a sound all their own - and it's a sound that is freakin' exciting to listen to.
DAMN, Chainsaw in the Dark is absolutely KILLER. I'm telling' you.
Even the opening to the song Still in the Game is unconventional, and although it heads into a typical (yet bad-ass) blistering hardcore verse, when the all-out gang vocals kick into the chorus, the jubilant intensity makes you want to scream along with them.
So the good news is that Siberian Meat Grinder rocks. The even BETTER news is that they are offering their album as a free download! Dude, go download S.M.G.'s Hail to the Tsarhere.
My God, I love this band!
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For more traditional slant to the thrash genre, Norwegian metallers WYRUZ deliver the goods. These guys began as a band playing Metallica, Slayer, and Death covers, which to this day are apparent as influences in their songwriting. You can hear the aforementioned bands weaving throughout each of the songs on Wyruz's album Fire at Will.
Songs such as Dead World incorporate those influences very successfully. The song Eyes of Your Killer brandishes some fantastic rolling riffage, reminding me of some of the best aspects of EVILE's own handiwork.
Vocalist Vegar Larsen is clearly versed in old-school Hetfieldian, and uses that particular styling (with a mix of some death metal vocals) to each song's advantage.
Yes, I am doing a lot of comparing here, but I can't help it. Wyruz was obviously going for a specific sound, and for all intents and purposes, they achieved their goal. Is Fire at Will completely original? No, but it's still damn good thrash metal.
Check out the tune below and then meet with them on Facebook.
All metal heads need to seek out San Jose's KILL RITUAL! Here we have a brilliant cross of old school thrash meets pure heavy f'n METAL. My GOD this stuff rocks. Truthfully, although their influences are well documented in the music they hammer out, I haven't heard a band hammer it out quite like Kill Ritual.
The riffs are total street, meeting somewhere between a cycle's spinning rubber and the pavement to make that cloud of hellacious smoke, choking out all traces of wimp rock in its wake. It's muscle and power driven metal ramped up with chugging dynamics to make you cuss in delight as you break your freakin' neck.
Vocalist Josh Gibson is a rare breed of aggressive vocalists who could fit in a wide gamut of various heavy music genres, including 80's glam, LA street rock, traditional metal, or balls-out, head banging thrash. Calling Gibson versatile is an understatement, and the fact that this guy has the vocal pipes to send even the most thrashiest thrasher in all of thrashdom vocalists home to cry in their soup kicks KILL RITUAL'S musical cred up quite a few notches.
Listen to their available songs below and then hit them up on Facebook here.
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West Phoenix thrashers PENTOMIC claim they are "attempting to mesh all that they like for a more original sound." On most counts they succeed, offering up more than your standard e-string galloping thrash.
Under the thrash and catchy punk-influenced riffs, you can hear waves of stadium rock, groove, and alt metal. Pentomic produces music that rarely loses interest through its journey of hard, heavy, strange, and the utterly fantastic, and fans of various genres of metal should find something to latch onto with this band.
Take heed: Those checking out Pentomic's tunes cannot simply listen to snippets of songs, nor can one listen to only a single song to get this band's whole story.
Listen a couple tunes below. If you dig the music, they made their songs available as a FREE download here. Afterward, if you have a Facebook account, go "like" the band here.
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Special thanks goes to Sonni Sørensen for bringing my attention to PESSIMIST. These German thrashers crank out some very cool and catchy thrash metal. Their album Call to War contains some of the most head-moving riffs I've heard in a while (Sons of Satan), combining those with hammering gut punches of aggression (Infernal Death).
Listen to the tunes below and then catch up with them on Facebook.
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A couple bands I wanted to mention before I close out of this post:
More than a few of you have been following the Serbian thrash band NADIMAC. These guys have been bringing the speedy thrash/crossover since their demo release in 2007, afterward releasing two full length albums and a slew of "splits".
Their most recent album Po Kratkom Postupku (try saying that three times fast) came out in 2011 and contains some harsh crossover gems, ripe for your ear-bleeding listening pleasure.
Do I know what these guys are screaming about? Nope, but face-ripping thrash is still face-ripping thrash, no matter the language.
Listen and like!
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The mighty ZOMBIE FIGHTER have released the song Beloth, from their upcoming EP titled Run For Your Life! The tune showcases strong songwriting, all packaged in a mass of tight riffs, sick vocals, and bad-ass guitar solos.
Check out Beloth below and then check out Run For Your Life to be released on May 11th.
I still have a ton of other bands to mention. I WILL get them bit by bit over the next few weeks. After that, I'll have even MORE thrash for you all. It'll NEVER end! Thank God!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Okay, we are BACK! The thrash world keeps a-turning, and so much has happened during my month-long hiatus. Let my typing fingers run off for a moment before I slice into the meat of the post.
First of all, the deal between Ultimhate Records and Norwegian thrashers TANTARA fell through for reasons unknown to those outside the band's circle. Needless to say, their debut album Based on Evil has still not been released, leaving the fans starving for new Tantara tunes (meaning they must go back and wear out those killer demos).
We're all awaiting word on the new deal Tantara supposedly has in the works. If you have read my review of Based on Evil, you know how much I love this album, and it's going to be a great day when I can either hit the store or impatiently wait for mail order to get my hands on a true-to-life hard copy of Based on f'n EVIL.
Second and third major bad ass happenstances are the releases of Overkill'sThe Electric Age and Municipal Waste'sThe Fatal Feast. Admittedly, I have yet to dive into The Fatal Feast, but it will have it's time to make my ears bleed soon enough.
The same can't be said for The Electric Age which I have been continuously blasting since the day I bought it. THIS is pure-blooded METAL. A non-stop barrage of ass-kickings that I plan to experience live at Killfest next week.
Meanwhile, many of us are tapping our feet waiting for Lich King'sBorn of the Bomb and Insinnerator'sHypothermia albums to surface. So while we wait for their inevitable releases to kick in our teeth, I have a ton of goodies for you all to check out. This is going to be a long-ass post, but you may as well stick around. What else do you have to do other than read about some killer thrash bands?
Let's get started!
There will always be bands out there that fly under my radar, but my internet searching skills are keen as an eagle eye, and eventually kick-ass bands from all over the world will be discovered.
One such band is Russia's HELL'S THRASH HORSEMEN. These dudes formed in 2007 and released their first ep titled …Till Violence in 2009. The debut ep is good, offering up stomping riffs that drive up your spine to put pressure on that headbanging nerve.
However, on their following releases, 2010's Going Sane and 2012's "DEMO 2012" take the songwriting up a notch, mowing the listener over with furious riffage and rolling thrash tempos that brings to mind a harsh mix of Overkill and Gama Bomb.
Hell's Thrash Horsemen get meaner and better with each release. The bonus is that you can get each of their releases for CHEAP on their Bandcamp page.
In case you didn't know, New York deathrashers LEGIONARY have finally unleashed their beast of an album titled Arcane Divisions on iTunes. I have heard it and it crushes. I will give my thoughts on this slab of killer metal in an upcoming post. Meanwhile, check out their tune below and hit them up on Facebook here.
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On the punk side of the thrash spectrum, we have Seattle, WA's THE INSURGENCE. These guys offer up a three point punch to the throat with heavy doses of rockin' punk, aggressive hardcore, and searing crossover thrash. With teeth-gritting, fist-pumping angst, The Insurgence deliver the goods on their Never Surrender EP and their self-titled full-length.
Listen below, pick up their tunes (digital or hard copy) over on their Bandcamp page, and then keep up with them on Facebook.
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Check out the thrashtastic insanity of Finland's own SAKREME. These guys take the old-school Metallica riffing and add hints of Pantera twang (minus the groove) to create some tough-as-nails metal.
The rhythm is chunky and tight, working in the essential dynamics to get the head moving. The fierce post acoustic opening to their song Statue of Imagination should get even the laziest pit to open up and destroy.
Give a listen to the tune below, check out some of their tunes on SoundCloud, and if you dig it, buy it on iTunes. Afterward, hit them up here.
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Hey! STRIKING DEATH recently released the song Save a Skater, Drain a Pool. The vocals are delivered in an old-school crossover manner, with lyrics that go from goofy to disturbing (or goofy to even MORE goofy, depending on your outlook).
In any case, this is another fine thrashing tune to stab into your ears. Listen below and check out Striking Death here!
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Austrailian thrash heavyweights 4ARM are finally dipping their collective toes into North America, so far playing three different shows…all in California. Will there be more U.S. dates coming? I don't know, but I hope so (of course)!
Check the dates here and then watch the video for their killer tune Raise a Fist below.
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From Belgium we have the band PREMATORY, featuring a batch of young dudes who know how to thrash it up! Formed in 2007 when the members were all within the same age of 15! In 2010, after a well-recieved demo, they released their first full length album titled Suiciety.
Prematory fits most of their tunes around mid-paced rhythms and riffs that would mix well with traditional metal as well as thrash. Vocalist Simon Duson belts it out with a style similar (although not identical) to Lemmy with hints of Mustaine.
Suiciety is a damn good start for Prematory and I can only imagine that these guys will get better and better with age and experience, so needless to say, I am hyped to hear their next offering.
As for you, check out the tune below and then go like 'em on Facebook.
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Now to go off the charts a bit and check out a band that weaves all kinds off aggressive genres into their music. Thrash, groove, rock, death, and bits of NOLA riffage twists throughout each of WESTERN DEAD's tunes, working them into worthy slabs of pure bad-assery.
Vocalist Robin Stevens summons a mixture of Al Jourgensen and Joel Grind, using his gravelly vocals to roll out with spot-on dynamics to effortlessly fit the songs, making them even better than they already are.
Western Dead may not be a thrash purist's cup of tea, but for those who like heavy music in general definitely need to check these guys out.
Listen below and head over to their Facebook page to say "Howdy".
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Another kick-ass Australian thrash band HEAD IN A JAR released their new video for for the song based on the band's name. If that wasn't cool enough, they have also made their Atomic Circus EP available as a FREE freakin' download! It's like a double gift of pure awesome.
Watch the vid below, get Atomic Circushere for free, and then keep tabs on Head in a Jar here!
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Speaking of FREE metal, I have a handful of bands that are offering up their hard work for your thrashing pleasure.
EXERCIUM from Portugal have risen up to destroy society with their 3-song EP (aptly titled) Destruction of Society! These thrashers wallop the listener with galloping riffs and harsh hooks. Is the music reinventing the unicycle? No, but who cares? Exercium set out to write some tight, pit worthy thrash, and they succeed on all counts. Besides, the rhythms these guys come up with are pure gold - not overtly complex, but just enough to get the metal juggernaut moving full force.
SEWERCIDE have been making the blog rounds lately, and they rightfully SHOULD. These guys are yet another Australian thrash band that utterly rules. Their 2-song EP titled Severe Trauma is unbelievably harsh and catchy, bringing forth an onslaught of searing thrash that could give Warbringer a run for the money. Scoff if you will, but go download Severe Trauma here for FREE and let the bludgeoning begin!
You have to admit that Brazil is no slouch when it comes to metal. So when I came across Brazil's own deathrashers BONEBREAKER, I was hyped to see that they have compiled all their demo songs into one kick-ass download…for free! How these guys manage to sound so unbelievably evil while singing about a beer tsunami is beyond me, but it works to the most ass-kicking degree. I love the riffs these guys string together mixed with the bloodthirsty angst brought forth in the vocals.
Click over to their Bandcamp page to get a free dose of thrashing insanity and then keep up with these crazy-ass Brazilians here.
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Okay, I have to stop here. I could go on and on, but then I would never get this damn post published. I have a TON of other stuff for you all, so hopefully I can get more to you within the coming week.
