Survival Instinct - Fatal Venin

Fatal Venin - now there's a helluva title for AN EP. And if we are being honest, the artwork is really a perfect fit for what a band like this is all about. The hectic assault of the guitars, the old school production, and the overarching sense of madness that perforates this most twisted of offerings. Survival Instinct are a Quebec thrash metal band featuring members of Outre Tomb attempting to keep the legacy of old school thrash metal alive. I'm happy to report that they find a way to succeed on every one of this EP's five bloodthirsty tracks.

Survival Instinct may not be attempting anything particularly novel here, but what they are doing is crafting classic thrash metal that worships at the altar of Venom, early Metallica, Slayer and other hyper speed 80s classics. The hectic playing on a track like "Instinct" is a whole lot of fun, and the unapologetic bloodthirst that defines these tracks helps to keep them memorable and fun. Survival Instinct don't really feel the need to hide what they are all about, thrashing it up, cracking skulls and starting up pits. Even if this project doesn't go further than this, it's a tasty addition to what has long been a legendary metal scene.

As a general rule this is a record that makes no bones about its 80s worship and ends up being an extremely fun headbanging good time. The shreddy frills and hyper powered energy keeps the record just nostalgic enough, but the blast beats remind us this isn't just another dad thrash band. Instead - Survival Instinct craft something that sits nicely in record collections next to Dark Angel and Exodus, conjuring up circle pits in a neverending whirlwind of the denim and leather that brought us all together.

Pre-order the album!

https://www.facebook.com/metalsurvivalinstinct

Reanimator - Horns Up

There is a certain charm to thrash metal about well... thrash metal. The way that bands like Reanimator are able to handle themselves and deliver crushing riffs and evil vocals to help form a wholly impure sound is stunning and captures my imagination every time. The fact of the matter is Reanimator prove with Horns Up that they really understand what thrash is about and the way they come for you, going for the throat and gouging at your eyes as they sing about moshing and demons can't help but capture the imagination.

Every moment of Horns Up makes the amount of work that went into the record deliciously palatable. You get a sense for the true travail that goes into making strong thrash metal, and sure the lyrics are silly and the bands name is a Lovecraft reference, but that's kind of the fucking point. Reanimator are delivering thrash metal in exactly the way you want it, inspiring you to break out your two step and mosh around the pit. These guys have managed to find every element of thrash, old and new and distill it into a record that never stops raging from start to finish with dueling guitar solos and flashy riffs delighting the listener.

The fact of the matter is, Reanimator are thrash metal done right. They understand the confines of the genre and they work well within them. Beyond that Horns Up shows the band coming to terms with what it means to get a crowd going crazy and understand how to handle their own charisma. The sense of chaotic triumph that you find in the rip-roaring adventure of this record is frankly, fun. There are a few limits on what the sound can do, but that's part of the pleasure, and Reanimator fucking get it so get on in here and mosh.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/reanimatormtl

Home Style Surgery

There is a certain perverse charm to thrash metal demos - especially from bands as gleefully technical and plainly out there as Home Style Surgery. With a wonderful band name and an even better sound Home Style Surgery sound like an old school version of Vektor. Don't get me wrong - I'm not comparing them to Voivod either, Home Style Surgery are actually something much more distinct than that. These guys have found a way of fusing the likes of Nuclear Assault with much more progressive and technical music, making their new record Two Essays Of Disturbing Human Behaviour all the more charming. As you delve into their sound you get the sense that hte band is holding on by a thread - almost ready to fall apart but not quite gone yet. This is part of what makes Home Style Surgery so appealing to me. They have a sense of honesty to them that many of their peers eschew. If you'r ready for hyper technical and kinda screw up riffs to break your bones look no further, Home Style Surgery are here for your head.

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/homestylesurgeryfinland?fref=ts

Mentally Defiled - Aptitude for Elimination

Mentally Defiled are a thrash band if there ever was one. With calssic art depicting zombie thrashers, songs that deal directly with thrash metal, and riffs that will tear your friggin' head off, Mentally Defiled know what it takes to bring the thrash into the twenty first century. Very much in the Municipal Waste vein of things, these are guys who want you to straitjacket mosh to your death. A band seemingly meant for the pit Mentally Defiled never let up and with Aptitude For Elimination prove their steel.

What's fun about these guys is that while they adhere to all the genres tropes there is a sense of modern day virility that gives the entire thing energy. There is no way a record like this could have come out in 1985, if only because the production is too tight and the solos too polished, yet that is part of what gives the band such a distinct sound. Within the angular riffing and precise solos we get moments of utter freedom, pure chaos enveloping your ears, not as Slayer did, but as Mentally Defiled did. As you make your way through the magic of Aptitude For Elimination it's hard not to feel that you're watching a controlled explosion.

Energetic to a fault and even a little bit artsy at times, Mentally Defiled are an exciting act. They've got that Exodus-Attack, but there is something more behind the scenes. A distinctly modern flavor that makes this the thrash metal band for this time and place. So get into the grooves and let the blasts ring in your heart. Mentally Defiled are going to kick your fucking ass and there is no escape from it. Sure there's a fuckton of thrash bands out in Europe right now, and yes, they all rock, but what's stopping another one from joining the party and getting down and dirty in the pit. Come on and join the toxic waltz.

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/MentallyDefiledOfficial

Obituary in Paris w/M-pire of Evil, Dust Bolt, Rotting Repugnancy (@Le Divan du Monde, 29/01/2015)

Following the release of their latest, crowd-funded album, Obituary was back with a vengeance last Thursday for an unmissable night for any old-school death metal fan. I, for one, being the death metal aficionado that I am, could not have been more excited to finally catch these death metal icons. Opening up the festivities for the evening were no less than 3 bands, each of them offering a different take on heavy music, making up for a nicely balanced line-up. Within this lineup of opening bands (of which all of them were completely unknown to me) were some duds as well as some pretty pleasant surprises.

Kicking off the show was the Midlands based UK death metal band Rotting Repugnancy, whose set I will quickly skim to talk about the following bands. While there wasn't anything inherently wrong with the bands' brand of brutal death metal, I honestly didn't find much appeal in watching their set. There were a couple of groovy riffs here and there but for the most part I wasn't all that convinced. One could easily tell these were competent musicians, which leads me to suspect that the overall sound of their set was to blame. Being well aware that this is death metal that we're talking about, I found the guitar sound to be a little too muddy for its own good and lacking a bit of precision and crunch to give it a "fuller" sound.

Next up was a fresh new band from Germany, playing for the first time in Paris but visibly with the intention of not making it their last. As soon as the sound checking was done, Dust Bolt rushed to the stage and immediately made the jump to light speed with their insanely energetic crossover and thrash-revival sound. Visibly drawing inspiration from bands like D.R.I, Municipal Waste and Suicidal Tendencies, these young-bloods blasted off with an insane amount of energy, running across the stage, waving their instruments around like passionate musicians living the dream. These musicians, fueled with such pure passion and energy, visibly won over their audience that night and effectively managed to give a good deal of them a strong appetite for some friendly violent fun in the pit. If there is one lesson to be learned from this set, it would be that Thrash is definitely not dead, and that so long as we have passionate musicians and passionate fans, thrash will never die. Going all-in for their first Parisian show, Dust Bolt left the stage with some well-deserved praise, having effectively conquered some new territory through their musicianship well-deserving of an upcoming headlining set.

Up next on the bill was a band whose name visibly did not strike a chord for a good deal of us but whose members obviously did. M-pire of Evil, formerly known as Primevil, is an old-school speed metal act from Newcastle founded by ex-members of the genre-defining band Venom, including its founding guitarist Mantas. For anyone wondering where the magic of Venom went after their now-classic first three albums, look no further: Mantas and his team kept the essence and spirit from the early days of Venom and have been touring and writing music under this grossly unrecognized new name and new formation. It somewhat saddens me to know that such creative potential resurfaces only now, since such a band would have probably gotten a lot more recognition and influence, had they formed during the time when Venom and thrash metal was at its peak. Tony Dolan, having replaced Cronos in Venom for nearly 15 years, still was at the top of his game, as was Mantas. M-pire of Evils' set mostly consisted of classic Venom songs, with occasionally a couple of new original songs blended into the setlist. With the exception of a few sound issues that were quickly solved, this set was an incredible treat and an amazing surprise for any heavy metal enthusiast.

Finally it was time for Obituary to play the evening off. As silly as it may sound, I was pleased to find that guitarist Trevor Peres was still rocking his Stratocaster and that frontman John Tardys' passion for camo shorts had not died out after all these years. The band started off their set with the song "Century of Lies" and "Visions in my head" off of their latest album "Inked in Blood", off of which they will be playing the most songs alongside their classic debut album "Slowly we rot". Another great surprise was the presence of lead guitarist Kenny Andrews handling the solos, considering that the bands' previous show in Paris had been as a 4 piece. While not crucial, the presence of a lead guitarist did make for a nice addition.

For the next hour-and a half to 2 hours, the crowd went absolutely insane, turning the venue into a full-on death metal warzone for the entirety of the set. John Tardys' instantly recognizable howling screams certainly haven't aged a bit, and neither did any of Obituarys' classic 2-beat thrash grooves and their ever-so-crushing mid-tempo riff breaks.

In short, Thursday evening was an incredibly enjoyable evening, with some great opening acts and a top-quality performance from Obituary, who still live up to their reputation. Relying on their simple yet effective formula for nearly 3 decades now, these death metal veterans know all about consistency and doing what they do best.

Robin

PS: A special thanks goes to the guys from Garmonbozia booking and Relapse records for making this review possible!

Rotting Repugnancy

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/RottingRepugnancy

Dust Bolt

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/dustbolt

M-pire of Evil

Official Website

http://www.mpireofevil.com/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/mpireofevil

Obituary

Official Website

http://www.obituary.cc/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/ObituaryBand

Obituary setlist:

1. Centuries of Lies

2. Visions In My Head

3. Infected

4. Intoxicated

5. Bloodsoaked

6. Immortal Visions

7. 'Til Death

8. Don't Care

9. Violence

10. Stinkupuss

11. Back to One

12. Dead Silence

  ____________________

13. Back on Top

14. Inked In Blood

15. I'm in Pain

16. Slowly We Rot

Unchained Beast - Guiding the Lamb

A thrash metal band who bring it loud and hard Unchained Beast are experts in the art of contrasting beautifully arranged classical portions with skin melting thrash. Toss in a few exciting guitar solos and you start to get a sense for the true destructive power of this band. With a little bit of everything giving flavor to the music, Unchained Beast show they understand what thrash is about. It makes their record a fun listen to, and with only five songs it's a bite size record that any thrash fan will be able to get in too.

While primarily influenced by American thrash it's hard for the band to deny their European roots. There is a certain rawness to the sound that nicely contrasts the more polished lines. One of the things that impresses me the most about this Norwegian trio is that they can so easily get a huge sound with just a few elements. As they plow through tracks like Gates of Dumbr it's hard not to want to get up and mosh. My only complaint is that at times the songs are too long, fortunately Unchained Beast introduce enough thematic material that Guiding the Lamb never gets dull. A particular highlight for me are the chuggy rhythm breaks which seem designed to get the pit started.

Fast, vicious, and vastly enjoyable, thrashers the world over will enjoy Guiding the Lamb. Sure it doesn't break new ground and certainly isn't part of the 'neo-thrash' or 'hyper thrash' movement, but for those of us who love it old school, there's nothing better. These guys get dirty in the pit and will break teeth wherever they go. So jump on in and feel the grooves. There is no other side, only darkness to come, but with Guiding the Lamb Unchained Beast guide you through the valleys with the hope of bringing you to those beautiful peaks.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/UnchainedBeastBand

Sodom - Sacred Warpath

I'll be honest, I never really got into Sodom and at this point in my writing career I've always thought that it was too late for me to be waving the teutonic banner high. Yet, the bands new EP, Sacred Warpath has proved to me that Sodom still have what it takes to be one of the worlds premier metal bands. With one new song and three live recordings of old classics, we have proof once more that Sodom are legends for a reason. These songs boil with unholy energy and dig into the flesh of the listener, there is something gloriously unholy about Sodom's crushing attack.

These songs have that wonderful touch of evil that makes Sodom special,a touch that even an essentially non-fan like me can appreciate. Sacred Warpath is another delicious release from this band with harsh vocals that are wonderfully easy to latch on to. The chorus is big and the riffs tasty. Sure, it's very much in the Sodom vein, but you can't say it isn't good! With Sacred Warpath show that in 2014, more than four decades into their career, they can still write, and perform some of the best and most exciting thrash metal in the world. There's something truly special about the longevity of this band, that they can maintain the evil through the trials and tribulations, true metal masters for ages to come.

In short, if you're a Sodom fan or not, you're going to have to enjoy what you hear on Sacred Warpath. Anyone who likes thrash metal will have a hard time denying the glory of these riffs and the joy of hearing Angelripper tear into songs about darkness, doom, and woe in front of a legion of screaming fans. If I didn't touch on it earlier, let me emphasize it now, the live tracks are incredibly well done and give a great sense of the undying legacy of Sodom. They prove that this band is only getting to get bigger, no matter how old they are!

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/sodomized

Insanity Alert - S/T

Insanity Alert burst onto the scene in in March of 2012 with their debut EP the masterful First Diagnosis, then in February 2013 they put out their second EP, a slightly weaker Second Opinion. Now as much I loved the second EP I was afraid the slightly more serious and even slowed down vibes of Second Opinion might plague the bands debut record. I am happy to report they have not. In fact the ten new tracks (Which are accompanied by 5 re-recorded pieces from the EP's) show the band on top of their game, cracking skulls and taking names.

The things that make Insanity Alert special are their sense of humor and magnificent songwriting. In some cases I might even go so far as to say that they are more Municipal Waste than Municipal Waste themselves. Tracks like Macaroni Maniac show that the band still have what it takes to rock and understand what makes them so distinct and special. The rapid fire delivery of the vocal lines along with tight guitar riffs is not something that you easily forget. When it's paired with memorable choruses and ripping solos that are a blast to listen too you have a record that embodies all that makes thrash metal great.

Insanity Alert is an album that will grab your attention right away and keep you moshing for hours on end. These songs are infinitely replayable. My iTunes informs me I have listened to their two first EP's upwards of 20 times and the songs on Insanity Alert are even better. Short and sweet this album gets to the spirit of thrash metal and makes you want to dance until your legs fall off. These guys can do something truly special and I think that this may very well be the best thrash metal record of 2014. So turn it all the way up and let the thrash take control. 

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/insanityalert

Castle Freak-Still Rotting

It's funny when a promo copy of a record lands in my inbox mere days before I'm supposed to go see a band play live.  Today's offering is the new record from Castle Freak, a band who have what can essentially be called an old school death metal sound with all sorts of unique twists. These Philadelphia death merchants are the kind of guys who are playing something that reaches much further back than many of their peers playing 'old school death metal' and the Repulsion worship found on Still Rotting is strangely satisfying, proving the eternal glory of this band.

As the band crashes into their new EP's first song Beneath These Streets you start to get a sense for the raw energy and madness that defines Still Rotting. There is a certain wonderfully demented glory that this record has. If nothing else, Castle Freak now how to pull out your still beating heart and hold it bloody and triumphant above their heads. This is the sort of music that you eviscerate the innocent too, in the words of my roommate "Their singer doesn't give a fuck," and frankly, this is glorious. Feeling the almighty vibes of Still Rotting may completely disable you, there is simply so much good stuff going on, it speaks legions of the bands power to touch on something much greater than themselves.

The chief drawback of Still Rotting is that it is far too short. Sure, this sort of music isn't meant for truly long form discs, but nevertheless, it would be nice to hear even a half hour long release from Castle Freak. As is, Still Rotting is another great step in the right direction as this band continues their path towards ascension. Though it may only be a few minutes long, this is certainly the kind of thing you can spin again and again. Lovers of death, destruction, and all that is unholy will certainly find something to connect to here, and if nothing else, it will get you into the pit.

Find Castle Freak on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/CastleFreakPhilly

Num Skull-Ritually Abused

Part of what I love about Relapse Records is their willingness to put out som truly interesting old school releases that never really saw the light of day back in the 80s. Their latest release in this series is the all time classic Ritually Abused from Num Skull, a band I had never heard of before this re-release but am now thouroughly in love with. With a sound who reminds me as much Dark Angel as it does of Possession, Num Skull are the kind of glorious thrash metal that takes no prisoners and will take your way and smash in your face.

Now, this record originally came out in 1988, so the harsh growls found on Ritually Abused are not totally groundbreaking. Nevertheless, their speed and execution is something to be reckoned with, they have a glorious ferocity that actually reminds me quite a bit of Power Trip. Their style of riffing is wonderfully groovy with all sorts of angular melodies anchoring the entire thing in a bleak reality. The guitar solos are flashy and fast, capturing the spirit of the 80s in their chromium attack. Ultimately, Ritually Abused has rapidly become close to my heart because it perfectly fuses two of my great loves, old school thrash metal and old school death metal, while it's certainly on the thrashier side of the equation it certainly proves that Num Skull were on to something exciting.

So as you feel the rapid fire attack of Num Skull rattle its ways into your bones, you ultimately have to release yourself from all inhibition and jump into the pit. These guys had a great sense of what it meant to thrash, and their Death Angel-like hooks slotted in perfectly next to riffs that were reminiscent of Morbid Angel. Ritually Abused may actually be one of the best extreme records to have come out in 1988, and its truly a beautiful thing that it is finally allowed to get the recognition it needs and deserves. Let this record wash over you, and feel yourself become Ritually Abused.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Num-Skull/641020849257882

Interview with Castle Freak

Here's another This Is Hardcore interview for ya, this time it was done at the A389 aftershow (Which I couldn't get into on account of not being 21) with the soon to be legendary Castle Freak. This is one of the most fun interviews I've done in a good long while, but though it's silly I feel like we cover a lot of good topics here. From 14 year old girls and sluts to HP Lovecraft Castle Freak have it all. If you want Repulsion styled old school death metal that will rip your face off, you have to look no further than the magic of this band.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/CastleFreakPhilly

What defines the Castle Freak live experience?

Andy (A): It varies from show to show, it really depends on whose in the crowd. If people know our songs and stuff they usually go wild. 

Dylan (D): If it's a basement show I'll go in on the cool mosh parts and hit them with my bass. 

A: It ranges from very wild to very nothing, our reactions are all over the board. 

You're still at a point where you can play to 200 kids or 10. 

A: It's definitely a sliding scale.

From what I've gotten talking to Zak and everyone, you seem almost a little bit silly. 

D: We're silly guys, but we play serious rock and roll. 

A: As people we have a good sense of humor, there is no bar too high for us to climb over with our humor. I try to keep the writing serious, and when we play live it's serious. The banter is almost always bullshit silliness though. Zak is a little bit sillier than the rest of us because he's like 16.

Z: I'm 21, just to put that on the record. Just because I don't drink doesn't mean I'm not 21.

A: I don't drink either.

D: I'm drunk as hell.

Z: I don't write the lyrics either but I think the lyrical content comes from a lot of 80s B-horror movies which are silly. The lyrics themselves aren't goofy.

D: It's very serious, its about death.

Z: And destruction

A: Only death is real. 

Z: Death, destruction, insanity, those things.

Where does the name Castle Freak come from? 

A: Okay, here's the story. Everyone thinks we got the name Castle Freak from the movie Castle Freak. Actually, me and Frank from Cave of Bats started Castle Freak as a recording project. He proposed the name and I said, okay, whatever, fuck it. It's literally just a name.

D: But there is a movie called Castle Freak based on the HP Lovecraft story called The Outsider, it's really good you should read it.

A: Same director and actors from The Reanimator, another HP Lovecraft film. 

Is Lovecraftian horror the kind of thing you want to invoke with your sound, and not just your lyrics?

A: Not particularly. That's more Dylan's Angelcrust kind of thing. Like Zak said we are pretty much all about cheesy 80s movies.

Are you trying to be a revival type deal or are you trying to push the envelope?

A: I think Castle Freak is almost its own entity now because a lot of people are like "Oh it's like Repulsion and Carnivore" but we take influences from all over the board. We've got grind and D-beat and death metal of course. Death metal is the main tier hear. 

Z: We've got a lot of melodic punk parts too. Terrorizer is a big influence, especially on the new stuff I've been writing. 

A: It is kind of all over the place.

The new stuff, tell me about that. 

Z: We've got a new tape out on Tridroid Records, it's called Still Rotting. It's pretty cool. Andrew at Tridroid is a good dude.

A: It's an extension of the old stuff with slightly better quality and I think our riffs have progressed a little bit, a continuation.

Do you have a larger goal, or a tour?

A: We've talked about touring, touring is difficult because we don't have a touring van right now. We're talking about putting out a split soon with either Manic Scum or Haunting from Atlanta. We have a live tape coming out also. That should be out any week now.

Z: We were trying to have it out for this show but there were financial issues.

A: Our other plan is we're working towards a full length, hopefully in the 18-20 song range. Our songs are real short so it's going to take a while to write. That's one of our long term goals right now.

You guys are all Philadelphia natives?

A: Dylan's Philadelphia, me and Zak are from the suburbs. I'm from Ardmore, Pennsylvania. 

Z: Born in New Jersey raised in Pennsylvania.

Where?

Z: I was raised in Springfield then Media. You're not going to use that I'm sure. 

Do you think being in Southeast PA has impacted your sound?

A: Definitely not our sound. A lot of the bands around here are very traditional in what they do, we're not so traditional. To a degree you are a product of your surroundings though. There's a huge punk scene too, it's more punk than metal right now. Even the metal bands, like us, take influence from punk. We're really into crust and d-beat.

I want you to finish this sentence for me "I've never told this story before and probably shouldn't but..."

D: My buddy face-fucked a girl and she killed herself two days later. That's a true story, no bullshit.

Z: My buddy was fucking a girl in her ass and pissed in her asshole.

D: Jesus dude.... Can we plug our other bands?

Sure.

D: Cape of Bats, Krieg, Slutlust, Angel Crust, Esoterica, check them the fuck out.

A: We're in all the same bands.

What do you love so much about music?

A: I fucking hate music. 

D: I like rock and roll and rock and roll started with Chuck Berry. He fucked fourteen year old girls and did a bunch of drugs, and that's basically the main influence on my life.

A: I like that you can have pretty much limitless range and it can be great or it can be shit, but people care anyway.

D: The sluts too dude.

A: Sluts. 

Any last words of wisdom or final comments?

D: Fuck you, kill yourself. 

A: All you gotta do is believe. B-O-Lieve.

Algebra-Feed the Ego

Algebra is a thrash metal band who are clearly steeped in Slayer worship, yet this doesn't hold them back, in fact it only drives them forward, masters of their own reality as they blast out music at hyper speeds. Algebra understand what it means to bring the mosh and the way that they force their bodies into unholy motion in the name of the strange forces of thrash metal is simply incredible. What more could you ask for than for the CD to literally rip you apart? Their new record Feed the Ego is raw and brutal thrash metal, and for those who like it fast, it speaks to the heart.

I think perhaps my favorite part of the riffs on Feed the Ego is the melodic ideas that provide stellar haunting bridges. One great example on this is on the simply frightening Egosystem which showcases some of the tightest pure old school thrash riffing I have heard in a good long while. There is a certain primitive brutality to Algebra's sound, the technical aspects are there, but like Testament, they have no trouble going into a darker place within themselves to find their music. Algebra groove like a Bay Area thrash band, a deceiving sound for Swiss thrash merchants to have. Although hey, can you really complain? Algebra deliver the goods, and at the end of the day, that's all we really need.

Brutal, primitive and glorious, Algebra understand what thrash metal needs to be about. The roaring solos betray a crazed youthful energy, the sort of thing that proves these guys understand the magic of true thrash metal. There is nothing especially new on display here, but Algebra clearly understand what they need to do in order to rip out throats and leave the listener brutalized, a thrash metal casualty. So turn it up and dive into the pit like you know you want to, Algebra are going to beat you into a pulp, so pull out your dukes and let's get down to it!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/Algebrathrash

Discipline X-Wasted in Hollywood

Discipline X are a thrash metal band from Finland, so it certainly feels a little weird that they'd be putting out a record called Wasted in Hollywod. But when you dig into it, it's actually pretty clear why they went with that name. Wasted in Hollywood does a wonderful job of reflecting not only pure and glorious 80s Bay Area thrash, it's also a wonderful party record with a more serious side. Unafraid to add more than a touch of hardcore punk into the mix, Discipline X have a very clear of what they are doing and how they want to do it, bringing the mosh is simply a part of the job.

Yet this record has a lot more depth to it than that. The acoustic mastery found on T.A.B is evidence these thrashers know how to slow down. The thing that really makes them special for me though is their incredible ability to groove. It drives the entire thing forward and makes Discipline X simply fun to listen too. This is not a thrash band who take themselves too seriously, in fact, they seem to do the opposite, but they also understand the power of the genre to bring in a political message. Songs like Bukowski show that the band are a lot more intelligent than their party-hearty image might suggest, leaving you pondering the magic of a band who can fuse the party with intellectual conversations.

The band says they are "Thrashier than your average punk and punkier than your average thrash" and this is very much the case. Discipline X may owe a large musical debt to bands like Suicidal Tendencies and DRI, but they also bring in their own bombast, reminiscent of bands like Iron Maiden. Toss in the diversity in lyrical topics and you start to get a sense that Discipline X are only going to get better. Throw this record into your CD player and feel the rage boil up inside you, Discipline X understand what thrash is all about, and the party is only just starting!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/disciplinexcrossover

Malakyte-Human Resonance

I reviewed Malakyte once, years ago, I won't link you too it, my writing was far worse back then (And it's still bad today) but here's the thing. I wrote that on the first laptop I owned, now I sit here on my fourth, contemplating thrash metal blasted away at the highest level. These crazed Australian thrashers don't mess around, and their new record Human Resonance is some of the most crazed and wonderful thrash that I have had the pleasure of reviewing in a good long time. As you sink into the hyper speed riffs and unholy vocals, it's impossible not to bang your head and jump into the pit.

The introduction to Human Resonance seems straightforward enough, a tense and beautiful classically derived piece entitled 7.83. Of course after that it all falls apart, thrash metal to make your mother cry. I think a large part of what makes the Malakyte so intense is the simply unholy vocals. Seriously, this guy has some sort of demon inside of him, there is no other way he could craft such blatantly wrong vocal passages. Toss in some top notch riffs roaring along at a million miles an hour and you get a sense of what Human Resonance is all about. Bringing in elements of neo thrash along with more old school ideas it's far too much fun to bring the mosh for the ten thrashing tracks to come.

So, are Malakyte Australia's best up and coming thrash metal band? Quite possibly yes. They understand thrash on a very profound level, but they also have a sound that is distinctly their own. Simply put, no one else is as insane as them, and while the riffs could be a bit more iconoclastic, you can't expect perfection from a debut release. With crazy solos and all sorts of good vibes I am very excited for the future of this band. They are taking Australia by storm and I get the distinct impression that soon they will be able to break out of that isolated scene and tour the world.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/Malakyteband

Game Over-Burst Into The Quiet

It's been a while since I've reviewed some good old crossover thrash on this blog, and Game Over are more than happy to delivery the solution. Their balls out thrash attack is the kind of thing that most bands can only dream of having. With an old school delivery touched up with a few modern frills, their new record Burst Into The Quiet is an exciting thrash metal record that will beat you up and then bash your head into the stage. Game Over understand what thrash is all about, and once that blazing circle pit gets going there is no stopping it.

See, even though Game Over certainly keep up a very 'street' vibe there is a certain epic feel to the music that allows them to really stand apart. Perhaps the best example of this is on the track No More which starts off with a rather epic feeling Iron Maiden-esque guitar line before breaking into a straight up crossover thrash riff. The aggressive delivery of the vocals is great, they're not growls, and in this case that actually makes things better, it gives a great old school feel to the songs. The gang vocals are another highlight, on tracks like Metropolis Part 3 they actually give the music a touch of Municipal Waste, which in my opinion, is always a good thing.

So, is this a thrash record that breaks new ground or crushes paradigms of what thrash metal can be? No. But is it a tight release that will get your body moving and head banging? Yes. Nine tracks of pit inspiring madness, this is a very strong sophomore release for these European thrash maniacs. Sure, I don't usually like European thrash, but these guys are an exception, they bring in so many cool ideas that you simply can't be turned off by it. So, jump into the pit and prepare to rage, Burst Into The Quiet is going to thrash its way into your ears, smash in your face and murder your wife.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/GameOverThrashMetal

Bidroha-Suffer Till Death

I'm only just starting to discover the Nepalese death metal scene, and it remains consistently impressive. Bidroha are one of the mightiest groups from this mysterious mountain land and their hard thrashing attack will impress metalheads the world over. Their sound is remarkably professional and they have some wonderfully tight riffs giving them a healthy dose of heavy metal flavor. These guys have a distinct attack and surely create some vicious mosh pits when they play live, in other words, Bidroha's new record Suffer Till Death is not one to be taken lightly. 

What makes Suffer Till Death really fascinating is the way that it filters a Bay Area Thrash sound through a Eastern context. In other words, while many of the riffs may have a classic San Francisco veneer, when you really dissect them you find a cool Nepalese touch. This also goes for the vocals, with a couple bits sung in Nepalese coming through with lots of flavor. The singers delivery is wonderfully tasty, he has a clear aggression and his touch of an accent helps to keep things exotic. Bidroha understand the core elements of thrash metal and when they play it, they just seem to want to turn it up, creating a pure moment of heavy metal catharsis.

In conclusion, Suffer Till Death, while maybe not a groundbreaking thrash record is certainly an interesting one. With spicy solos and crushing rhythms, Bidroha prove their place as lords of their scene, ready to take on any challenge and bring the mosh across the globe. These guys could do big things in the near future and watching them take off will be a pleasure. With a groove that simply can not be forgotten this is one of those records that beats its way into your skull and then destroys the furniture. Dive on into the pit and turn Suffer Till Death up, you won't regret it.

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BIDROHA

Dust Bolt-Awake the Riot

Four long haired dudes from Germany playing Bay Area style thrash? Well, that's a pretty wonderful basis for any metal record. Dust Bolt know how to follow through too, their hyper speed assault will keep your hair flying and body thrashing for all twelve songs. While at times the record may get a bit repetitive, Awake the Riot is still exciting and fun. The kind of thing that will make you flip the lid of your cap and get ready to get down with your friends in the pit. Dust Bolt show no mercy and they don't expect any, let your hair fly and jump on in!

From the epic beginning of Living Hell you get a sense for the sheer magic of Awake the Riot. It brings forward the kind of high energy thrash sound that so many of us fell in love with in our teens. Blazing riffs punctuated by spicy frilly keep the listener constantly engaged. Some of the guitar harmonies here bring a lot of fun to the sound and show the technical skill of the band. There are also a good handful of fun and flashy solos, the sort of thing that you dig into and can't help but fall in love with. On top of this, the bands vocalist has a great understanding of his pipes and his delivery adds a beautiful splash of passion to the record, best of all, it is mixed in nicely, optimally placed for thrash madness.

In conclusion, Awake the Riot, while it may not break ground, is certainly a lot of fun to listen to and will get your head banging and body moving. This is the sort of thing that encourages epic mosh pits and ridiculous keg stands. Sure it's wild and crazy, but that's what makes it so fun. Toss in some pretty darn intelligent lyrics to an already delicious thrash metal plate and you've got yourself a record worth quite a few spins. Dive on off the stage and prepare to crush posers, there is no escape from the unholy thrash attack brought down by Dust Bolt!

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/dustbolt

Nocturnal Breed-Napalm Nights

Nocturnal Breed have been around basically as long as I've been alive, which is a little shocking to consider. With many a release under their belt Nocturnal Breed have always put out quality material. Their new record showcases some crazed, Motorhead derived thrash metal that represents the most blazing and evil thrash supergroup that has risen up over the years.Their new record, Napalm Nights is perhaps their best yet, a record that speaks to the true power of thrash and rips your face off with its unending thrash metal desecration.

One of the first things that struck me about this record was the way that Nocturnal Breed seem to have a sort of primal and beautiful understanding of thrash. The way that the riffs come roaring out of the guitars in songs like Thrashiac showcases the primeval magic of a record that gets into the eternal triumph of thrash metal. These songs rage from start to finish and capture the hearts of the listeners. Something that really stands out about Nocturnal Breed is the use of guitar solos, they add a lot of flavor to the songs and keep listeners engaged and excited, showing a promising new way that titans of the genre approach one of metals most hallowed genres.

A product of tight songwriting and some wonderful production, Napalm Nights will keep any thrash fan engaged for many a spin. Nocturnal Breed are quite clearly metal to the bone and truly represent the Ultra Speed Cult. This is mosh pit music for the masses, thrash metal for the legions of thrashers and soul tearing metal that will kick you in the chest and then bite your throat out. The product of masters, I am excited to hear more from Nocturnal Breed. Napalm Nights stand as the progeny of true metal lords, ready to triumph over all of poserkind.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nocturnal-Breed-OFFICIAL/250907411181