Lenny Troo Frasher: The Retrothrash Poem

Ecopolis wishes you a Happy New Year!

San Jose's ECOPOLIS is starting off the new year by offering their two available songs as a free download on their Reverbnation page!

They will be offering this for one week only, so take advantage while you can.

I had to give their musical charity a quick plug because speaking as a fan of deathrash filled with speed, groove, and raw aggression, Ecopolis cranks out some top notch stuff. If you don't believe me, check out the goodies below, download them here, and then Facebook them here to say "Happy New Year!"

Weekend Breakdown: Jack Devil, Beyond the Divide, OrckOut, T.C.L.

We're doing the Weekend Breakdown post early because I've been such a Scrooge with the lack of posting lately. So, in the spirit of Christmas, I thought I would make penance with you all and keep the holiday spirit alive with a Weekend Breakdown post that features bands that are giving away their tunes for free.

So here's a late Merry Christmas present! I hope you find something you like. Let's get into it!



JACK DEVIL
Brazil's thrash metallers JACK DEVIL freaking rock. Period. These dudes slam out some gritty speed thrash with riffs evocative of Justice-area Metallica minus the weighty prog wankery. The flow and dynamics of the songs sound effortless, offering up slabs of kick-ass thrash that is both harsh and fun as hell to listen to.

Songs such as Under the Metal Command, Road to Hell, and Violent Invasion show how screamingly bad-ass and uncompromising metal should be played. So how awesome is it that they are offering their album up for a free download? Completely.

Thanks, Jack Devil!

Check them out below and download their album here.





BEYOND THE DIVIDE
As of this writing, Cincinnati's BEYOND THE DIVIDE have only one song available for a free download. The song, titled Payment, is a catchy mid-paced thrasher with cool breakdowns, and a main riff that gets me moving every time (especially when it kicks in after the chorus). Vocalist Mike Reichert's voice brings to mind Phil Rind of Sacred Reich with a hint of Hetfield.

The big bonus here is that on January 17th, 2012, Beyond the Divide will make their entire album available as a free download!

Get a taste below and then be ready to get your thrashin' freebie this January! Facebook them here.





ORCKOUT
Brazil's ORCKOUT plays a crushing brand of modern thrash metal that manages to capture bits of the sludge-filled NOLA sound, Chicago doom, and even some Seattle grunge for flavor. OrckOut's musical mix makes for an interesting hard rock/thrash hybrid that might draw the favor of metal fans who aren't looking for smiley-faced rainbows in their music.

OrckOut has bestowed us with a whopping nine free songs (so far) for download, including three new ones!

Check them out below and them hit them up on Facebook to snag the free tunes.






T.C.L.
Yes, it's no secret that I love me some hardcore. Without crossover taking up space in my thrash arsenal, I'd only be a half-full headbanger. Which brings me to Japan's T.C.L., a hardcore band that blends searing noise and sonic insanity with some straight-forward mosh inducing riffs.

T.C.L. might not be for the average traditional thrasher, but their music is hard hitting nonetheless. Still interested? Check out the tune below and then visit their Facebook page to download their four available tracks for free!

18 Wheels of Justice's Christmas gift!

The guys from the Boston metal powerhouse 18 WHEELS OF JUSTICE are offering their Execution album as a free download during this holiday weekend!

Head over to their Reverbnation page and take advantage of the band's Yuletide joy. Afterward, hit them up on Facebook and thank them for the gift!

Thanks, 18WoJ!

If, by chance, you are stumbling upon this page after the Ghost of Christmas Present became the Ghost of Christmas Past, go check out 18 Wheels of Justice anyway (or click here to see the small write-up I posted about them on this here blog).

Merry Christmas!

Thrash Zone Radio

There is a relatively new online radio station called Thrash Zone Radio that is dedicated to this blog's favorite genre of metal.

These guys play all things THRASH, from crossover, Bay Area, Teutonic, new wave, old-school, underground, and everything in between. If you're a fan, this station is for you.

For a direct link, go here. If you're streaming iTunes, hit them up in Radio - Hard Rock/Metal - Thrash Zone Radio.

If you're interested, Facebook them here.

Daxx & Roxane ROCKS!

A big hat tip to Basile Golaz for tipping me off on Montreux's DAXX & ROXANE.

Yes, Daxx & Roxane doesn't seem to be the most "metal" name for a band, but when the riffs rock this hard, the band could be called Rainbow Farts and I would still proudly pimp these guys on my blog.

The essence of Daxx & Roxane's music is pure hard rock. It's as if the band originally set out to write tunes influenced by AC/DC and Deep Purple but took a detour and riffed their way into the land of Kill Em All, Ace of Spades, and Among the Living.

This is not a knock on Daxx & Roxane. Truthfully, the mix of influences in their music absolutely works. As I listen to these guys, I just can't get over the bad-ass catchy riffs, used as the electrically charged building blocks for creating monstrous horn-up metal. Killer!

The vocals harken back to classic 80s metal. I'm not simply speaking about the sound of vocalist Cédric Pfister's voice, but also his patterns and melodies which express a clear understanding of melding with the music instead of just screaming on top of it.

I dig it, man.

Check out the tunes below and then go holler at them on Facebook.

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!