Dungeon Crawl - Maze Controller

 

Thrash metal and symphonic metal isn't really a combination I thought I would ever be into, but Dungeon Crawl find a way to make it work. The band has a distinct approach to the genre, bringing classic Kreator-esque sounds in line with punchy synths. The end result is Maze Controller a thrash metal record that can't help but to be bombastic and a whole lot of fun. As dorky as one might expect a symphonic thrash album about role playing games to be, Maze Controller is a blast, any way you slice it. This is a fascinating take on symphonic metal. 

The compositions here are surprisingly intricate. Punches of keyboard accentuate angular riffs and the gloriously chunky riffs give the entire album a sense of momentum that a lot of modern thrash metal lacks. There is a delicious high speed madness to so many layers of this band and it's hard not to be enamored with the over the top nature of the music. Dungeon Crawl wear their influences on their collective sleeve and the end result is a deliciously fun, kind of silly but wholly endearing thrash metal album. What more could you want? 

Pre-order the album: 

https://carbonizedrecords.bandcamp.com/album/maze-controller

Zerre - Scorched Souls

 

Man - this is a ripper. One of the interesting things in a post Power Trip world where hardcore and thrash merge all the time is all the directions the genre has since taken. Zerre are a really interesting example of this, with their new album Scorched Souls taking elements of bands like Power Trip and infecting them with a healthy dose of 80s magic. This means big solos, mosh parts and lots of headbanging. There is something infectious and fun about the magic of Zerre and their take on what 80s thrash can be in the modern context. 

Scorched Souls is a helluva album. It's fun. It's over the top. The energy is delectable. For those of us who have always had a special place in our hearts for classic thrash, Zerre deliver the goods. This is a record that pays tribute to all eras of thrash and does it in their own, wonderfully intense way. In fact - I'm genuinely shocked more people aren't talking about this band, because this rules. Their ability to nail the aesthetic but give it their own flavor is addictive and speaks to a band who can't help but to thrill. Scorched Souls is an intense listen and one that crashes down around your ears with the intensity of an exploding sun. 

Zerre seem to be on the warpath for heavy metal supremacy. This album is addictive and truly gets it. The hooks are huge, the riffs will get your fist pumping and the rhythms are guaranteed to get you caught in a mosh. Zerre have distilled so much of the magic of thrash metal into six killer songs and I hope this is a sign of more to come. It's hard not to be enamored with this level of intensity, and Zerre pull it off with aplomb. Is this my favorite thrash metal album of 2024? So far yes. And it just might hold the title for the rest of the year.

Buy the album! 

https://zerrethrash.bandcamp.com/album/scorched-souls-2

Desolus - System Shock

 

This one FUCKING shreds. Desolus are a thrash metal band like few others, pulling deep influence from the likes of Sodom and Kreator. Their unapologetic thrash metal sound is fierce, raw and a little bit terrifying. There is something wonderfully addictive to the balls out assault that they deliver on System Shock. This is thrash metal done with a deep understanding of the German scene, where intensity is the prirority and it's impossible not to be enamored with the crippling assault that Desolut bring forward across all ten tracks of this album.

And of course - this thing is coming out on Hells Headbangers, the perfect home for unrelenting thrashing mayhem. System Shock is a skullcrusher. They come for the throat and keep us from breathing time and time again. There are very few bands I see in the US scene emerging that have such a deep understanding of the genre and go for it in a way that is so cripplingly heavy. System Shock thrills because of the blasting ferocity of the album, it's over the top, and Desolus know it. This isn't supposed to be thrash metal for VH1 fans, this is thrash metal for people obsessed with the underground, constantly looking for that next stage dive inducing terrorstorm. 

System Shock is an unrelenting delight, a record that leans into the tropes of the genre but does so with aplomb. And when the tropes rule - don't you just want more of them? Desolus get it, simple as that. System Shock is the sound of them unleashing their finely honed craft at a million miles an hour and for those of us who have found solace in the angular riffs and flashy solos that define this sound then System Shock is going to be a welcome addition to the canon. One can only hope this is just the beginning for one of the assault. 

Pre-order the album! 

https://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/item-group.asp?pgpID=36784

Nervosa - Jailbreak

Nervosa have been through A LOT in the last few years. Not only did Prika Amaral, the mastermind behind the project completely change over the lineup since 2022, she's also taken over vocals. Most bands might balk at such a radical change in their overall setup, but Nervosa have found a way to make it all work. Jailbreak is anthemic and exciting, it fits clearly into the overarching Nervosa catalog and the band finds a way to present their work in a way that speaks to just how far they've come, whilst remaining exciting, vicious and humble. 

The thing that's always excited me about Nervosa has been their dedication to classic metal tropes. As much as they are very much an evil thrash metal band, they also are a band who value flashy guitar solos, epic guitar harmonies and big fist pumping choruses. This coalesces even further on Jailbreak whose title track is replete with these tropes, but done in a way that doesn't feel corny or sad, but rather a fitting tribute to what the band is about and honoring their influences. Nervosa find an excellent balance between the demonical thrash metal that is the core of their sound and more NWOBHM type influences which add a surprising dose of fun. 

Jailbreak is a delightfully vicious record. The power of Amaral's now trademark "Oogh" and the intensity of the rhythm section means that this record has never a dull moment. The blend of influences has never been more articulate than on this album and it feels like Nervosa are living their best lives in a way that they haven't in years. Jailbreak is going to chew you up and spit you out, and it's indicative of a band who have found a path that is wholly their own and who can't help but to excite a whole new generation of thrash fans.

Pre-order the album!

https://nervosa-brazil.bandcamp.com/album/jailbreak

Kill The King - S/T

 

Man - the Indian thrash metal scene is one of THE great underrated scenes in the world of metal today. Thrash masters Kill The King is just one such excellent example of what this scene is capable of. Their self titled debut which drops in six weeks is the brainchild of Gutslit and Demonic Resurrection guitarist Aditya Swaminathan. For those in the loop they already know that this is going to rule. Swaminathan has played on some of the sickest records that the Indian underground has to offer, and Kill The King is another thrilling feather in his cap. 

From the epic, high energy intro that is "Sirens" to the moody mid paced thrash of "Abuse" Kill The King find a way to express their vision in a way that is unrelenting and addictive. The bands take on thrash metal is evil and angular, unafraid to twist the knife and force listeners to choke on the bitter pill that is their sonic birthright. Kill The King may have some DIY fringes that will alienate some listeners, but for me the raw side of the recordings is counterbalanced by the quality of the songwriting and some truly impressive guitar playing. This is a band who find clear paths to devilish auditory victory and leave listeners in awe in the process. 

Kill The King are a wonderful addition to the ever thrilling Indian metal scene. With their Slayer derived assault and unrelenting commitment to sonic violence it's hard not to fall in love with this debut. The band clearly know how to put together wonderfully addictive thrash metal and do credit to the triumph of the Pune scene. Kill The King has the potential to become a cult classic. We just need to wait and see what these kids do to follow up and keep listeners in thrall with their thrash metal misery.

Pre-order the album!

https://killthekingofficial.bandcamp.com/

Charonyx - Persistent Soul

Now this is an interesting one. Emerging from the American Midwest, Charonyx have just unveiled a thrilling new EP, Persistent Soul. It's a high flying thrash metal release with oodles of interesting thrills and intense performances sure to keep listeners engaged. It's a record that is clearly in love with metal past and which eagerly borrows from a variety of elements ranging from 80s speed metal derived from the big 4 to Queensryche inspired prog sorcery. It makes for a fun listen that showcases the musicians skill and hints at the potential that they are bringing to the table. 

Persistent Soul impresses because of its diversity of approaches, but in some ways this is also what holds it back. From track to track you find yourself jumping between subgenres, and while the execution is generally good, it makes for confusing listening. Still - it takes some talented goddamn musicians to be able to pull off what the band has done here with their gallops, blasts and soaring vocal wizardry. Tied into this - it's really fun to just listen to a record that has shredders on it, that is in love with the classic elements of metal that got so many of us excited about it in the first place. The acrobatic guitar playing is perhaps the strongest highlight of the release. 

Charonyx are a fun band to listen too - full stop. The music is intense and bouncy and colored with all sorts of guitar flourishes. While the diversity of their sound can be a little confusing, as the band settles into their groove you start to get a sense for what they are really about and the vision they are so eagerly bringing to the table. This is thrash metal done with a sense of the past and a desire to fuse influences to craft something greater. If you're going to listen to one release from an unsigned band today, then this should probably be it. 

Buy the album: 

https://charonyx.bandcamp.com/album/persistent-soul

Terrifier - Trample The Weak, Devour The Dead

I've been a fan of Terrifier for a really long time now. I covered their first EP "Metal Or Death" on this very blog back in 2013 when I was still in high school for gods sake! Suffice it to say, I was thrilled to be seeing their first album in 6 years, Trample The Weak, Devour The Dead had hit my inbox. This is a band who understand the power of eighties thrash metal but infues it with a wonderful modern edge that keeps it engaging, exciting and a dynamic thing that will get listeners addicted to the speed metal assault. This is thrash metal done with a technical edge and a freakish intensity that will alienate posers across the globe. 

Trample The Weak, Devour The Dead excels because it builds on all the classic elements that have helped to make Terrifier such a cult favorite in the underground for so many years now. Terrifier have a level of technical capability that borders on the terrifying, and it's hard not to be thrilled by the hectic assault that drives listeners forward on these addictive and mind melting ragers. Beyond that - there is a level of intensity here that is hard to deny. On tracks like "Death And Decay" the frontman at one point belts out the word "Die" with so much conviction you can almost see the missiles descending upon you from your living room - it's incredible. 

In brief - Terrifier have proven with their sophomore effort that they are still among the most interesting and potent bands in the thrash metal universe. Trample The Weak, Devour The Dead is an absolute monster of an album, from its Ed Repka cover art to its super dry production, the band finds a way to continuously prove that they are a one of a kind force who will rip out your throat and thrash you to death. This is what thrash was always meant to be about and it's delightful to hear these Canadian masters still at it all these years later. 

Pre-order the album!

https://empirerecords.bandcamp.com/

Invicta - Triumph and Torment

Now this is a fun one. Invicta are a thrash metal band who have been on my radar for a few years now, and this newest offering is a rip roaring heavy metal apocalypse. A record that isn't afraid to go faster than over the top and which gleefully leans into the more evil side of thrash metal, Triumph And Torment is very much a thrash metal fans thrash metal record. While there are certainly rawer elements to what's being done, the end result is an album that is a lot of fun and will get your neck snapping as you mosh your way from the pinnacle to the pit. 

Triumph And Torment excites because of the sense of chaos that they throw listeners into. While the execution isn't always where it needs to be, the overarching vision behind the music has a clear passion that is going to entrance metalheads the world over. It's the groundwork for great things to come and the rawness that define tracks like "Battle The Beyond", when contrasted with the high flying guitar lines, is pretty immediately striking, exactly the sort of thing that will entrance longhairs and keep them coming back for more heavy metal fury. It's metal thrashing madness done with a passion for the bands musical ancestors. 

Anthemic at best, Invicta have found a way to distill the current heavy thrash moment into something that is full of classic metal frills whilst feeling very modern. The angular playing and tight performances impress listeners and have them coming back, curious for more of the speed metal histrionics and chunky guitar lines that have come to shape this band. Invicta will leave you with your head banging and horns in the air. It's thrash metal done right that doesn't expect too much of the listener. What more could you really want? 

Pre-order the album!

https://invictacanada.bandcamp.com/album/triumph-and-torment

Disquiet - Instigate To Annihilate

Disquiet are a melodic thrash band who have operated on the fringes of my awareness of the European metal scene for a while now. I remember seeing them years ago and being impressed with their take on the genre. Now, their new record Instigate To Annihilate sees them pushing to dramatically higher heights and impressing with a sound that is polished and gut wrenching. They've been able to go in and refine their unique sound into something that will crack skulls and leave listeners gasping for air as they seek to fully understand the madness within. 

As a general rule, the compositions on Instigate To Annihilate are a head and shoulders above anything the band has done in the past. The guitar tone is dialed in to perfection and the crippling groove of a track like "Demonic Firenado" is impressive. Meanwhile, the band is clearly willing to push themselves in new directions on this album. "Wrecked" sees the band taking on Amberian Dawn style symphonic metal and then injecting it with their trademark thrash. This is thrash metal made for festival stages, focused on making European headbangers raise their horns and fall in love with the fierce magic of what the band has unveiled. 

Instigate To Annihilate is a dynamic and thrilling record that shows that Disquiet still have a few tricks up their sleeve. It's always cool when a band, decades into their career, is able to conjure up what is far and away their best music to date. It's a delight to immerse yourself in the madness of this offering and the further in depth I go the more I realize this is a potent album worth many a spin. If you're looking for the European thrash triumph that will guide you through your spring, then this is absolutely the album for you.

Pre-order the album!

https://disquiet.bandcamp.com/album/instigate-to-annihilate

Scarecrow - Raise The Death's Head

I love the extent to which at this point in his career, Matt Harvey is just having fun. Such is the magic of Scarecrow, a band he reunited over the pandemic to record a killer three song EP that acts as a tribute to classic thrash metal. Featuring Harvey alongside Damien Sisson and Will Carroll alongside former Exhumed drummer Bud Burke, Scarecrow is a very fun listen, especially for fans of classic 80s thrash. The playing is high speed and hectic. It's a whole lot of fun and showcases a different side of things for Harvey in particular. 

It's frankly impressive to see how nicely Harvey is able to pull off the semi-clean thrash metal vocals that define this record. The fact that someone who is already seen as such a talent in the world of death metal vocals was able to stretch himself to do classic thrash vocals is a little mindblowing. It speaks to just how good a musician he is. Of course - the rest of the band are also excellent, laying down tight and angular grooves on tracks like "Victory?" which is in my eyes the strongest of the three tracks presented here. These songs are angry and ferocious, directly calling out white supremacy and the struggle of our times. It makes for compelling listening. 

This is a fun diversion from the main careers of some very cool established musicians. At under 20 minutes long, Raise The Death's Head has extremely high replayability and is guaranteed to keep listeners moshing along. Scarecrow is clearly a labor of love, but it's a blast to thrash along to the vicious playing that helps to shape tracks like 'Raise The Death's Head.' This may be a tribute to the style, but that doesn't mean you can't have a kick ass time raging along to what Scarecrow have put together here. It's masterful to say the least. 

Pre-order the album!

https://bewareofthescarecrow.bandcamp.com/album/raise-the-deaths-head

Sodom - Genesis XIX

 

Man - Sodom are just the best. Literally as I was halfway through the first track on Genesis XIX I said to myself, 'This band is so good.' You can't contain the glory that is a new Sodom album - the bands first full length in four years, and first with the legendary Tom Angelripper sporting a brand new lineup. Though he's released some EP's with a few of these guys before, it's really exciting to hear the thrashers at their best on this new album. They have a sound that is solidly their own and it's a thrill to dive into the pit with the madmen. 

Genesis XIX represents a weirdly diverse step forward for Sodom. While this is certainly not a sort of step back, it just sees the group willing to bring in a few more rock oriented touches, and even hinting at doom metal on the crushing intro of 'The Harpooneer.' While yes the band is thrilling and over the top, Genesis XIX  shows that there is an interesting new era to come for Sodom, even as they embrace the fifth decade of their existence. They understand the raw rock fury of the thing and are unforgiving in their desire to go for the throat. This is a veritable lightning storm of thrash metal energy, but the band shows they can bring in so much more than that when they need too. 

Sodom have outdone themselves here. An unrelenting release schedule and dynamic approach to the genre has given us some of the bands freshest material in ages. There's something weirdly reassuring in the fact that despite it all, Tom Angelripper is still REALLY fucking angry. The bloodthirst throughout this album is palpable, and the performances are all around thrilling. Sodom want you to get in the fucking pit and to suffer with them. If you're not ready for the madness and mayhem, then German thrash metal is not for you. 

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/sodomized

Tulkas - The Beginning Of The End

 

 

Man - this is a fun one. The Mexican thrash metal scene has been cranking out good shit for years, and this latest offering is just another testament to the greatness of their scene. This new record from Tulkas, The Beginning Of The End is a potent opening salvo. The record is hard hitting and wonderfully tight, in many ways reminiscent of bands like Warbringer or even Havok. Yet they draw from a much deeper well, complimenting the EP with a cover of a Metallica deep cut, 'Shortest Straw.' All this to say - Tulkas are the real fuckin' deal. 

I think the thing that gets me about this record is the sheer ferocity they unleash. This comes out in a few ways .First and foremost the vocals are excellent, wonderfully angry, aggressive and over the top. The bands singer simply spits venom and it's hard not to love that. On top of that though is the simply stellar production and songwriting. It makes the songs really ring out. In particular the bass guitar is given plenty of places to shine, really helping to set the band apart. The flashy guitar solos too are a blast, giving the entire record an old school feel and leaving headbangers everywhere enamored with what the band has delivered. 

So yes - this is a record driven by tropes. Hell one of the songs is called 'Devastation By Greed.' If that's not a thrash metal song title I don't know what is. But the thing is that's the fun. Tulkas are playing into what makes thrash thrash and unafraid to have a blast with you as they unleash riff after riff after riff. Unrepentant and gloriously heavy, Tulkas are a band who are destined to take on the world, crack your skull in and then thrash some more. The Beginning Of The End showcases a hungry band who are crazy talented - keep an eye out for 'em. 

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/tulkasthrash/