Weekend Breakdown: Exzeltic, Mortal Infinity, Drunkards, Terror Detonator, Captain Trips

EXZELTIC
Dublin's EXZELTIC offers up a healthy dose of old-school thrash with hints of traditional and power metal. The song writing is top-notch with both catchy sharp riffs as well as old Megadeth-esque rolling riffage. This is all topped with truly epic solos and some killer raspy vocals similar to Rodney Dunsmmore of Devastation.

Even as I write this, I grow in excitement over how kick-ass this band is and how much potential the future holds for them. Exzeltic is a band to keep an eye on.

Check out their tunes below and then definitely hit them up on Facebook.








MORTAL INFINITY
Modern German thrashers MORTAL INFINITY hammer your teeth in with some monstrous angst-ridden metal. Mortal's thrash attack has plenty of speedy moments, complete with the barrage of double bass drumming and Slayer spider riffs. The balance between the speed, the mid-paced slam, and the Bolt Thrower-like slow grind make for a killer time jamming to Mortal Infinity's crushing tunes. Awesome.

Check out the songs below and hit them up on their Facebook page to download some FREE metal!










DRUNKARDS
Italy's DRUNKARDS tear through their brand of thrashy speed punk like an explosion of controlled chaos. Part rock and part punk thrash, Drunkards hammer out some unusual riffing and acid-throat vocals. For fans of music on the fringe.

Check out their tune below and then hit them up here.







TERROR DETONATOR
Greece's TERROR DETONATOR roll out their thrash-fueled crossover like a grime-covered boulder. Their raw, meaty riffs and throat-torn vocals thrash hard, bringing to mind the gutter punk rage of Violentor and Speedboozer. The touches of traditional thrash and even some grind add well-placed layers to Terror Detonator's mass of violent music.

Check out the tune below and find out more about them here and here.






CAPTAIN TRIPS
Out of Stillwater, MN, the mighty metal trio CAPTAIN TRIPS guide us through their music with an array of killer chunky thrash riffs and song structures that hint at bits of Slayer and Nuclear Assault. Captain Trips sound like they write music with a sense of pure pleasure, and even come off at times as if they are on an ad-libbed jam. It's raw and fun.

Listen to their homage to John Carpenter below and then Facebook them here to download some free tunes!

Weekend Breakdown: Like a Texas Murder, Battlecreek, and Vivisection!

LIKE A TEXAS MURDER
First of all, here is a big THANK YOU to the dude's in Six In Line for directing me to what has become one of my new favorite bands. If you are a fan of more hardcore-leaning crossover thrash like I am, then by all mean check out Brazil's LIKE A TEXAS MURDER. Cool name. Cooler tunes.

The dynamics in their music is stellar. I'm not talking simply about the effortless crunch of the guitars and flow of the drums, but also the standout performances by vocalists Gabriel and Leo. It shouldn't be surprising, but it's amazing how killer sounding vocals coupled with a vocal pattern that enhances the music can make a good band great. In this case, they make a great band nearly perfect.

The production of their albums, in particular their album Tudo de Ruim, sounds devastating. The speedy parts are explosive and will twist your head off, while the breakdowns build and release with agonizing power.

Check out a couple samples below, stream the sh*t out of them over at their Bandcamp page, and then hit them up on Facebook.








BATTLECREEK
Taking notes from the more aggressive side of the old-school thrash masters, Germany's BATTLECREEK crank out a vicious onslaught of tight riffs, badass guitar solos, and searing vocals. A big thumbs up to guitarist Christian Meisl for creating a literal wall of sound with a one-guitar attack. Battlecreek bring the tight speed of Gama Bomb and the ferocious bite of Warbringer and combine it into a sonic weapon of monstrous, throat-ripping intensity. This is thrash f**king metal.

Check out the streaming tune as well as Battlecreek's sick and darkly funny video for their song Psycho Torture. Afterward, if you're so inclined, Facebook them here.









VIVISECTION
Sometimes there is power behind wild abandon. When I first came across Wisconsin's VIVISECTION, the recording and sound of the band came off as a bit too raw and loose. At the time I felt this hurt the dynamics of the songs, hampering my interest which sent Vivisection back into my thrash limbo cloud where literally hundreds of thrash bands float around, pimping out amateurish and tedious attempts at songwriting.

The thing is, Vivisection is anything but amateurish and they definitely are not tedious. I kept reaching back into my limbo cloud, pulling Vivisection out for a listen and discovering a band with solid riffs, killer song structures, and bloodthirsty vocals. These guys started to have me hooked!

Over repeated listens, that raw and loose sound had morphed into a pissed beast of a metal band, one that I believe will continue to grow.

Vivisection are not quite perfect, but they are damn good and it may be worth it to keep your eye on them to see what they plan to unleash in the future. I know I will.

Listen to their tune Living Dead below, go here to download it for FREE (thanks, guys!), and then hit them up on Facebook.

Weekend Breakdown: Testimony, Toxifix, Insane, Armament, and Besegra

As I was preparing another Thrashline post, I realized I had a few new bands in there that actually warranted a Weekend Breakdown post. After all, it is the weekend. So I decided to make everything alright in this world and offer up...


TESTIMONY
Chicago area band TESTIMONY jam out killer prog-leaning thrash, centering more on a good metal ass-kicking than high-brow wankery. With their EP Transcending Reality, Testimony grab the listener and rock with interesting dynamics and killer musicianship. Although the songs are not quickie stompers (they range from five to over seven minutes each), fans of intricate and speedy riffs will never get bored.

Check out the song below and then keep an eye on their Facebook page for news on the official release of Transcending Reality.





TOXIFIX
Another notch in the killer metal scene in Texas is Dallas's TOXIFIX. With influences ranging from thrash, death, and blackened thrash, Toxifix hammers with a winding punch of insane riffs and sick vocals. Their album, titled Rise From the Ashes, sounds raw (in a good way) and although the weird vocal effect might turn off some listeners, I feel it adds a layer of intensity to the music - especially in the song Gravedigger.

If this sounds good to you, then GREAT! Because these crazy metalheads are offering their songs as a FREE download! FREE THRASH!

Thank them by liking their Facebook page.









INSANE
Old-freakin'-school! I know, most of the bands I feature on this blog have that sound, but Sweden's INSANE boast a warm mix of thrash and traditional metal that sounds like it should only be played on scratched-up vinyl and 3rd generation tape trades. This is metal you can sink into, sprout a pair of iron balls, and aggressively pound thy head and fist. Cool riffs and bad-ass solos abound, Insane is an insanely fun listen (see what I did there? I'm so clever).

Check them out below and then check them out here.







ARMAMENT
Los Angeles metalers ARMAMENT are streaming their Metal Anarchy EP now! Two of the songs, Fight and Paranoia of Conspiracy are available as a free download. Armament cranks out some killer thrash with a vocalist reminds me a bit of Mike Muir, although not so much in voice as in vocal lines and patterns. The last minute to their song Paranoia of Conspiracy is a non-stop pit-inducing thrasher! Check 'em out!

To download the tunes or get a copy of their EP, hit them up on Facebook here.






BESEGRA
Looking for even more free thrash? Of course! Canadian deathrashers BESEGRA have three songs (including one "unedited" instrumental) available as a free download. Besegra streams together energetic, melodic and brutal riffs to help further damage your hearing. The main riff to Slaughterhouse is killer! My only compliant is that the vocals are a bit overbearing in the mix, usurping some of the riffage power. Other than that, I'm digging these guys.

Listen below and hit them up on Facebook here to snatch up their songs.

Weekend Breakdown: Deathraiser, Subhuman, Head Crusher, and Vehement

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I am far behind in my reviews and wanted to get a couple written, but I also haven't posted a new Weekend Breakdown for a while. The backup of bands I have in waiting is overwhelming and I could have made this post an obnoxiously long one, featuring a dozen bands, but if I had time for that we wouldn't have so few posts this month, right?

Right.

So let's get into this week's...

DEATHRAISER
There are a slew of thrash bands that try to convey a deep meaning in their songwriting, holding the listener tenderly with moody transitions, overlong intros, and toe-tapping choruses. Others just want to tear your f***ing throat out.

Brazil's DEATHRAISER hammers out slaughtering thrash that rubs your face hard in the gravel of its relentless speed and aggression. These guys take a stripped-down Kreator approach to thrash and kick the speed up to almost unmanageable proportions. Do want the fury of a non-stop thrash assault? Then by all means, get your hands on Deathraiser's Violent Aggression album and let it pummel your ears bloody. Completely bad-ass.

Check out the streaming vids and then hit them up on Facebook.







SUBHUMAN
Italy's SUBHUMAN play killer death/thrash that is as tight and technically sound as it is brutal. The drums and guitars roll together in razor sharp precision, laying out a fierce foundation for vocalist "Zula" Ferzola's throat-mangling charge.

Subhuman slams out fast and searing metal. For those who lean on the death side of aggressive tunage, check them out below and then Facebook them here.







HEAD CRUSHER
HEAD CRUSHER originally formed in Colombia and are now located in Texas, forging a 10-year history of spreading their brand of Cavalera-tinged thrash/hardcore/death. These guys crank out fat hooks that combines vicious speed with mid-tempo groove. At times, they layer the songs with passionate slices of atmosphere to let the music take off in flight before nailing them back down with aggressive riffage. Cool stuff.

Listen below and follow them here.





VEHEMENT
We go back to Italy to find some crushing modern thrash in the form of VEHEMENT. These guys use many tools within the various extreme music genres to create their metal.Vehement pack a punch with a hammering onslaught of guitars and vocals that hint of aggressive hardcore without going completely crossover. At times, you'll catch a curve ball such as the NOLA-esque riffs and vocals in All That's Behind and the painfully brutal sludge in The Slow Drowning of Mortality.

Vehement is a killer band that blends its influences into coherent slabs of mean freaking' METAL. Check them out below and follow them here (If the stream below isn't working, go here to listen to their available streaming songs).

Weekend Breakdown: Soul Collector and Eldritch Flamethrower

I know I said there would not be another Weekend Breakdown post until next week, but I had a little time and was able to assemble a quick write-up of a couple thrash bands that caught my ear.

So here is this week's



SOUL COLLECTOR
Poland's metal gurus SOUL COLLECTOR found an interesting way to grab the best of Slayer and Exodus riffs and throw in some 70s stomp rock sensibilities to come up with a bunch of headbang-inducing catchy metal tunes.

Songs like I Saw and Pure F****ing Evil are fun crushing thrashers with memorable riffs that roll along with the tempo to create fist flying slabs of destruction.

Other songs such as The Stoneface use some classic rock influence, at times sounding as if Nazareth and Overkill collided. It completely stomps ass.

Rafal "Don Vito" Halamoda's vocals lean toward the Zetro side of aggression, offering a tough and gravelly old-school flavor which works perfectly.

Check out the streaming song below and hear live versions on their MySpace page. Facebook them here, and then ask them, "Hey, how can I get a copy of your music?" Then let me know.







ELDRITCH FLAMETHROWER
Based off one unrefined demo track, Oregon's ELDRITCH FLAMETHROWER caught me off guard with a catchy e-string chug-a-thon and sick sense of humor.

Based on the dynamics, the song Human Barbecue is a gift to moshpit aficionados. Speedy, all-out thrash moments followed by the classic mid-tempo stomp, and highlighted by fist-raising gang vocals. What's not to love?

Check out the tune below, thrash about the room, and then hit them up on Facebook here.

Weekend Breakdown: ParaBellum, Fatal Band, 18 Wheels of Justice

It's been a couple weeks since the last installment of the Weekend Breakdown. Like you, I need my metal fix of new and upcoming bands, but peering into the dark crevices of the World Wide Web to find them takes time.

Well I've been short on time. Sucks.

In fact, I know that it will be at least two more weeks until the next Weekend Breakdown, but bear with me. We'll get through this together.

So let me roll out a few bands that have caught my ear so we may raise each of their metal torches to light our way until the next time we meet.

That was cheesy. Anyway...



ParaBellum
First let's cross paths with Bodmin, UK's PARABELLUM who thought they could sneak under the radar by posting one lousy song. WRONG!

In fact, their song Caged is far from lousy, and if it any indication of what is to come, then ParaBellum will have a solid first release on their hands. These guys thrash with a mix of old-school Big Four love peppered with a hint of Evile for new school flavoring.

Although Caged is not overly complex (not that it needs to be) nor are the solos very memorable, it has some killer pit-worthy moments and the vocals are good, making me more than interested in hearing more from ParaBellum. They have established a solid foundation as a killer thrash band and my hope is that they continue to grow and kick all of our asses.

I'll be watching!

Listen below to Caged and then check them out on Facebook!






Fatal Band
I don't know how to describe Moscow's FATAL BAND except that their brand of…uh…death/grind/prog/thrash is mind blowingly hypnotizing. No, Fatal Band are not for everyone, and their music is not something I can simply jam out to, but the complexity and layers of insanity are freaking fun with which to batter in one's brains.

It's as if the band Death and Mr. Bungle had a cocaine baby, albeit a well disciplined cocaine baby (Fatal Band are intricate and articulate as hell in their songwriting).

Give 'em a shot below and if it suits your tastes, hit Fatal Band up on Facebook. You owe it to your inner-heterogeneous musical tastes that you didn't know existed.









18 Wheels of Justice
Finally I offer you a modern mass of speed, groove, riff-rock and downright evil-sounding crunch that makes up the whole of 18 WHEELS OF JUSTICE. My God do these guys rock! They are far from traditional, but they use old-school techniques of speed-to-mid tempo dynamics to get the neck snapping. The riffs are fat as hell, ranging from pummeling gallops to groovy riff-rock as if Slash would join Clutch and write Slayer riffs. If it's heavy, 18 Wheels of Justice has it in their songwriting arsenal.

Check out their available streaming songs below and after you get back up off the floor, check them out here.