High Command - Everlasting Torment

Yeah this is a fun one. High Command have captured imaginations for years with their high power brand of crossover thrash. Now with their brand new 2 song EP, Everlasting Torment it's clear that these thrashers are here to stay. There is something incredibly fun about this band and their mix of sonic influences with fantasy inspired lyrics. It's a rather unexpected take on the genre but the bands execution makes it work. The bands clear and high minded execution is utterly thrilling and there are a lot of ways that this two track EP hints at a bold future for the band. 

What really gets me about Everlasting Torment is just how well they understand thrash tropes and how they make them their own. Be it the staccato riff turns arounds on 'Everlasting Torment' or the maniacal laughter that closes out 'Sword Of Wisdom' Everlasting Torment continually shows that this is a band who are deep into the magic of thrash and are executing it for a whole new generation. It's a treat to really sink your teeth into some of the more frenzied moments of this record and it's delightful when you see the gleeful nerdiness of this release shine through. It's even enough to overcome some of the weaker moments - like the extended intro to the record. 

There is a manic energy on Everlasting Torment that keeps me coming back, thrilled at what this band can bring to the fore. You quickly see yourself falling into a hardcore two step and raising the horns at the stratospheric vocals. There may not be a lot of material here, but by god is it a blast to listen too. It's refreshing to hear new material from these thrashers and it makes me very curious to see how they are able to build on their legacy with whatever they do next. For now - join me in getting metal thrashing mad and diving into the pit. 

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/HighCommand

Iron Age - The Sleeping Eye

Man it's been a minute since I've spent time listening to Iron Age. One of the most exciting bands of the 2000's, The Sleeping Eye was the bands greatest statement. It is eight tracks of hardcore meets thrash madness that is endlessly addictive and speaks to the overarching magic that this kind of music can have. On The Sleeping Eye Iron Age continually impress with their songwriting and gutsy sonic assault. The circle pit inspiring magic of this record makes it one of the most compelling thrash records of my teens.

I think what always got me about The Sleeping Eye was its heavier take on the crossover thrash of their contemporaries and musical ancestors. Though tracks like Arcana Pt 2 shine with the melodic guitar harmonies the group also was unafraid to touch on death metal on this record and unveil some of the darkest vocals in the history of the genre. There is a simple elegance to The Sleeping Eye in the way that it nicely combines myriad ideas in order to unleash something that is unique, iconoclastic and exciting. In many ways Iron Age capture what a fun and mosh worthy record should be all about here.

Long story short, this record is bombastic and over the top. In some ways it almost feels like a parody of a devout metal record. The Sleeping Eye is a continual exploration in taking crossover thrash to dizzy new heights. It's a fun album to blast the night away with and one that seems to continually hint at what more the group could do if they decide to put out more material. As for now, the re-issue that is coming courtesy of 20 Buck Spin serves as a fitting reminder to just how good Iron Age where at their absolute peak.

Insanity Alert - 666-Pack

Longtime readers of this blog know that I have been a diehard Insanity Alert fan since I was 15 years old. I got their first demo all the way back when the way to submit to this blog was to ask on a thread I had made on the Ultimate Guitar forums. Since then they've gone on to play what feels like every festival in Europe, sign to Season of Mist and generally speaking present themselves as one of the best thrash bands in the world. Now we see them preparing to unleash their third full length, and first for Season Of Mist, 666-Pack. 

This is some truly hard hitting and maddening shit. A record that sees the crossover thrash favorites shift into much more of a grindcore mode with touches of powerviolence interacting with more conventional thrash tropes the brand has embraced crazed heaviness making this one of the bands most gloriously twisted releases to date. Don't think for a moment though that Insanity Alert have given up on their thrash obsessed ways, it's just that now there are a few more zombies and terrifying creatures from the abyss. It makes for the most aggressive and twisted Insanity Alert record yet, and I kind of love it. 

The general silliness of the band has been toned down overall, giving them more in common with some of the more straight faced elements of Iron Reagan. Still the tongue in cheek elements, as with Iron Reagan, are always there and they help bring an exciting new layer to what Insanity Alert have done here. Rather than just being a comedy thrash band they have started to grow up. nevertheless this is a very fun and hard hitting thrash record that is guaranteed to bring the mosh no matter the circumstances. 

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/insanityalert/

Iron Reagan - Crossover Ministry

Iron Reagan are one of the greatest things to happen to thrash metal and hardcore in the last decade or so and the balls out assault of their latest offering, the almighty Crossover Ministry is a powerful testament to all that they have been able to create in the last few years. An album that captures all of the pent up energy, brutality and raw stupidity of the band Crossover Ministry darts out of the gate, smokes your weed, smashes in your face and reminds you why this band is among the greatest going right now.

This is a band who started out with a clear mission statement and have evolved on it with every passing record. Though the bands core concepts of punchy riffs, shouted vocals and general crossover thrash madness are still intact the band that released Crossover Ministry is far more evolved than the one who put out Their first full length Worse Than Dead a mere four years ago. I mean it makes sense - the guys tour all the time and have a total of eight releases counting this one, if they weren't tossing in crazy solos and showing far more evolved songwriting with even more pungent humor I'd probably be surprised.

That is not to say that Iron Reagan have become lost up their own asses. Rather - they remain as virile and exciting as ever. Crossover Ministry is vicious and tasty, a testament to years of listening to some of the greatest heavy music to ever come up and the product of countless evolutions on classic themes. Iron Reagan is a band who might be here to save us all, and even if they aren't,they have a great sense of humor and will guarantee that you get the shit kicked out of you in the pit, so you might as well dig it!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/IRONREAGAN/?fref=ts

Homewrecker, Oathbreaker and Iron Reagan at Saint Vitus

Man, Saint Vitus Bar, the home of countless great shows and endless good times. At this point of my life Saint Vitus has become a sort of lodestone for my existence. No matter how much I might try to stay away I can't help but to keep coming back, in love with the venue, the sound and the people. There's a lot to dig, and it's only accentuated when you have three solid bands in the form of Homewrecker, Oathbreaker and Iron Reagan. The headliner, Skeletonwitch, I unfortunately had to miss, but that doesn't detract from the packed house and heavy grooves that defined the soiree.

I hadn't seen Homewrecker in over a year, but I still remember their ferocious attack. Matt Izzi is a veritable beast on stage, almost transforming as he lets the power of the music wash over him. Homewrecker is the sort of metal band who can't help but to stun you - who show you a fucked up and magical side to themselves that leaves you trying to come to terms with what you just saw. As they slowly transition to death metal their live performances seem to get even wilder, with every crushing chord and devastating breakdown reflecting a lifetime of bitterness and despair. Homewrecker come out of the gate and tell it like it is, presenting a bold new future for their genre.

While I've definitely listened to Oathbreaker in the past it had been a while since I was exposed to them and their unique brand of post rock fused with hardcore is a pleasure to watch come together on stage. They understand the power of extreme music, but balance that with what can be wonderfully delicate vocals. Their use of juxtaposition, not just in their music but also their live presentation is delicious and shows you just how good this band is. Oathbreaker are a logical extension on the world renown Belgian hardcore scene, taking the sound to a place that has an eerie beauty and an otherworldly magic.

Finally the hour was nigh for Iron Reagan - a band I've seen what feels like a million times but am still desperately in love with. There was a dinosaur in the mosh pit who stage dived on the first song and it seemed to only get crazier from there. There is a sort of gleeful violence to Iron Reagan's music - they totally understand what they are going for and deliver on a magical level. It's impossible not to have a good time at an Iron Reagan show because everyone on stage is clearly having the time of their lives. Iron Reagan understand the fundamental power of thrash metal and hardcore, and at this point I think I like them more than Municipal Waste.

I had to run then, off to a harsh noise show in a church. Yet the time I spent at Saint Vitus will surely prove to be memorable. It's rare that you get to see three such solid bands who represent so much of what makes the hardcore and metal scene great in 2016. It was a perfectly curated lineup for an evening that would leave us all smiling. Stage diving, thrashing and worshipping the fallen gods of a time forgot Saint Vitus guided us into our Halloweekend with reckless abandon. Sure this might not work for everyone, but it certainly works for us.

Find the bands on Facebook!

Homewrecker: https://www.facebook.com/HomewreckerOH/?fref=ts

Oathbreaker: https://www.facebook.com/theoathbreakerreigns/?fref=ts

Iron Reagan: https://www.facebook.com/IRONREAGAN/?fref=ts

Goatwhore and Iron Reagan at Gramercy Theater

Gramercy Theater is rapidly becoming one of my favorite spots to see a show. Despite the union regulations making it hard to run around the backstage area the venue is still a wonderful place. There is a sense of conviviality to a show at Gramercy that you don't get elsewhere. Perhaps it's because the shows there bring absolutely everybody out, but it almost feels like a performance at Gramercy can't help but be a good time. So when I found out I was going to get to see two of my favorite metal bands out there right now I couldn't help but get excited.

After the longest guest list line ever I was able to get in to see Iron Reagan play and was, as usual, blow away. I've actually had the good fortune of seeing this band a handful of times now and every time seems to be better than the last. The burning ball of energy that is Tony Foresta is clearly still enamored with the concept of the band, crying out things like “We're going to play five songs in a row now, let's count them down” or “We have three songs left, so like four minutes of music.” It's fun to see these guys having such a good time on stage and just fucking delivering. The raw energy of Iron Reagan is ecstatic and inspirational – this is a band who are only going to get better and continue taking the world by storm.

I've always loved Goatwhore live and this particular set was no exception – in fact this was an excellent night for the band. As Falgoust let out his beloved cry of “Let's see those fists” hundreds of crazed fans screamed along to his every word. When the time came for that immortal cry of “Fucked! By! Satan!” it felt like the room was going to explode. Goatwhore, more than almost any other band out there right now understand what makes heavy metal greay. When Falgoust talks about being a metal family from the stage it doesn't feel contrived, rather it feels like a reflection of the man himself. This is a band who are here to smoke your weed and kick your ass but be nice about it. Goatwhore fucking deliver live and it's hard not to fall in love with what they do.

The night came to a close as I wandered out of the venue to interview Falgoust and simply reflect upon the power of what I had just seen. Sure The Black Dahlia Murder was inside rocking the house, but that wasn't for me, I had gotten what I had come for. The veritable rock and roll hootenanny that is life in New York City comes to a head at events like his and shows us that through the fire and the flames there is still a whole lot to be stoked on. Rock and roll will never die, it will just get more and more demented.

Find the bands on Facebook!

Iron Reagan: https://www.facebook.com/IRONREAGAN/?fref=ts

Goatwhore: https://www.facebook.com/thegoat666/?fref=ts  

Hammercult - Built For War

Hammercult are one of those bands that have always had 'it'. Now I'm not entirely sure what 'it' is, but there is something that this band evokes, perhaps something that came through in their sophomore record, or stuff that came out when I saw them open up for Napalm Death last year. The thing is - Hammercult are turned on to something distinctly special and understand the raw power of thrash metal, and now they are back with anthemic and punchy thrash masterpieces that will keep you moshing through the night.

I think that one of the things that really draws me to Hammercult is that they have their own aesthetic and a very clear idea of the image they want. They have always been the fucked up thrash metal band who use crossover ideas and death metal vocals to get the kind of sounds that most of their peers can only dream of. The raw energy and primal darkness communicated in their music is stunning. Beyond that though Built For War sees the band using more crowd-pleasing ideas to make it the kind of record that makes you pump your first. These ideas have always been in Hammercults music, it just feels like know they have a much more refined sense of who they are.

The fact of the matter is, I'm probably biased, Hammercult have been one of my favorite thrash bands for a long time. What can I say? Songs like Saturday Night Circle Pit Fight remind me of high school and they are brilliantly written. Hammercult are vicious and communicate a sense of devastation that is really missing in a lot of modern thrash metal. If you're diving into the pit to honor what these guys have done on this latest full length then you're missing out. Hammercult are the real motherfucking deal, don't deny yourself their triumph!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/hammercult?fref=ts

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

DRI, Gash and Dick Vomit at the Reading Reverb

So - another night - another show, this time to bring the mosh with almighty DRI and a couple cool touring bands who opened up for them on one of the best bills I've ever seen hit Readings quasi-legendary Reverb. With a couple of opening acts who seemed to be big on theatrics, a fitting counterpart to DRI's stripped down majesty, this evening was one to remember, the kind of show that reflects the simple beauty that this kind of music can have and reflects on the enduring power of thrash metal and punk.

First up were Dick Vomit, a band who are gleefully offensive, using blow up dolls and glitter canons to accentuate some over the top theatrics. There music - a take on Toxic Holocaust/Municipal Waste style retro thrash with a little grindcore thrown into the mix is a joy to listen too. It has a sort of blazing triumph that directly contradicts the bands grimy surroundings. Few bands understand the importance of a live show like Dick Vomit do, sure these guys probably will offend you and a lot of their banter and lyrics cross lines, but that's kind of the point. It's the sort of shit meant for fourteen year old boys, and when you're dealing with a metal crowd, that's a pretty good deal.

Gash were up next and their fairly distinctive brand of punk rock - fueled by a literal orgy in the pit was definitely a little shocking to say the least. There is a sense of punk rock madness in its purest form that is channeled with the music of Gash. These guys know what it means to feel discriminated against and torn down and their utterly oppressive stage show was a veritable fucked up saturnalia of punk rock glory. There is a strange charm to this band, vulgar as they are. They are tight - but there's a sense that they're about to fall apart - but you get the impression that with a band like Gash, that's just the way they like it.

Finally it was time for the almighty DRI to storm the stage. There is a sense of glory to this band that only comes through four decades worth of heavy touring in all corners of the earth. The way that they slam the audience with power  chord induced trauma and use punk rock tropes to create a sense of glorious nihilism is, in a word, beautiful. The setlist was most triumphant, I don't think I could have picked a better one myself. Special highlights were the three new songs (All hardcore derived) and closing on I Don't Need Society, that almighty cry of "Fuck You" served as a moment of jarring finality before an encore that featured tracks like Beneath The Wheel. A beautiful night if there ever was one.

What I'm trying to say is that this kind of music is perhaps all we have saving ourselves from utter extinction. DRI are a symbol of what it means to be punk rock and they have seen it all, changing the genre for all time and wearing battle jackets and (In Harald's case) tricked out basses to lead the charge. All three bands I saw last night reflected the inherent power of punk rock, and if you don't like it - fuck you. This is what we need to guide ourselves through the fire and the flames, and provide us, us stupid punks, the power to carry on.

Find the bands on Facebook:

Dick Vomit: https://www.facebook.com/dickvomit66642069?fref=ts

Gash: https://www.facebook.com/GASHOFFICIAL

DRI: https://www.facebook.com/pages/DRI/137263955229?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

Rise of the Northstar - Welcame

One thing is for sure, Rise of the Northstar could not have picked a more appropriate name for their band. The band has been making big waves in the Parisian Hardcore scene since very early on in their career, starting with few demo songs posted on their myspace page and leading to extensive touring overseas and music videos reaching 1 million views. Their success story is an exceptional one, considering that they reached this far without any help from labels or management (that is before getting picked up by Nuclear Blast recently). Today we're here to examine the band's latest step in their promising career: the release of their first full-length album, produced by none other than Zeuss (Hatebreed, Madball).

RoTNS's sound is deeply rooted the Metallic Hardcore category, but with a stronger emphasis on NY-style hardcore influences.
One of the elements that help the band stand out from the rest is their imagery and lyrical themes centered around their love for japanese culture. Nevertheless, the comparison between RoTNS and Hatebreed seems almost inevitable, especially considering the fact that the band decided to spice up their sound with thrash metal influences with this release.
Every song on this album is a soundtrack to a warzone, armed to the teeth with heaviness that will make your jaw drop. Between the rap-metal verses and catchy gang vocal sections, the band makes extensive use of breakdowns and 2 step grooves to keep your blood pumping. Unfortunately, while the first few tracks seem to hint to a record with some diversity, the album quickly falls short in maintaining the listener's interest. The sharp modern metal production on the record, while lining the band up with some of the biggest names in modern metal, only helps to make their compositions appear stale in comparison. Unfortunately, some of the lyrics on the record also suffer from the same issue, appearing uninspired even by hardcore standards.

Overall, Welcame offers some killer left hooks hinting towards the bands' potential (eg: the title track, Samurai Spirit) but has a bit too many filler tracks and song ideas that could've used a little more work. My overall feel on this album as a standalone listening experience is unfortunatly one of slight disappointment with regards to their previous singles. However, there is no doubt in my mind that these songs will prove to be extremely effective in a live setting in opening up massive moshpits. Nevertheless, I'd recommend any fan of Hardcore, Beatdown and Metallic Hardcore to give this record a spin and to catch these guys' upcoming release party show next january! (details below)


Robin

Rise of the Northstar
Official website
http://www.riseofthenorthstar.com/

Next show @Le Divan du Monde, Paris (Album release show)
http://www.digitick.com/rise-of-the-northstar-guests-concert-divan-du-monde-paris-23-janvier-2015-css4-digitick-pg101-ri2777377.html

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

Hatefulmurder-No Peace

So first off, before really plunge into this review, lets take a moment to admire this bands name. Hatefulmurder have essentially reached the logical conclusion of awesome metal band names, and like their music, it reflects the power and glory of those who came before, but still brings something new. See, what makes Hatefulmurder's new record No Peace so interesting is that it seems to find no trouble fusing thrashy death metal with more bombastic elements that are reminiscent of bands like Iron Maiden. In other words, they've got something truly special.

Once the album really gets going, it's fun to feel the kind of infectious grooves that dominate the music. These tracks all have a wonderful drive to them that keeps them exciting and fun for the duration. The harsh vocal lines are best when they touch on that searing Phil Anselmo sound. The tight production on No Peace allows it to ram straight into your eardrums, super compressed and filled with a sort of very poignant and in fact almost frightening hatred. Yet there are some interesting bits of padding here and there with female vocals and synths occasionally giving the songs an epic touch. This nicely compliments powerful blasts and speaks to Hatefulmurders ability to fuse seemingly disparate metal genres.

Simply put, Hatefulmurder get what the glory of thrash metal is all about and as they gallop forth into glory ride, you have to take a moment to reflect on this. These Brazilian thrashers understand what the genre is about and when they come and rip your throat out with songs like Gates of Despair, you have to honor their ability to put together something that is truly special. So come on over and dive into the pit, Hatefulmurder get the beauty of thrash, but bring in enough exciting extra stuff to keep you going for days. This is heavy metal, and it is good.

Find Hatefulmurder on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/hatefulbook

Iron Reagan-The Tyranny of Will

Here's the thing man, Iron Reagan get hardcore and thrash in a way that almost none of their peers do. There's a reason that Iron Reagan are one of the few bands who have the honor of their logo being carved into my desk. Their new record The Tyranny of Will is the sort of hard hitting music that is required to keep the genre alive. Hell, this may be the point where Iron Reagan has eclipsed Municipal Waste as the best band that Tony Foresta is involved in. As the band grind their way forward through 24 of the most exciting tracks of their careers, you have to take heed to the rapidly growing might of this band.

What I've always loved about Iron Reagan is the fact that they manage to keep grooves that directly engage metal dudes like me. Toss in the occasional guitar solo on tracks like I Won't Go, and you immediately realize that Iron Reagan are on top of their game. The startling intros (and audio samples) really allow the record to remain exciting and fun. The anthemic nature of a lot of these tracks is very much in the spirit of true hardcore and I could see them going down very well in a live context. These tracks all bring the rage and Foresta's voice roars out louder and prouder than on many recent releases. On top of all this, The Tyranny of Will shows us some of the best hardcore riffage to come from Phil Hall in a little while. In other words, Iron Reagan have nailed it.

As the band charges through track after track of oftentimes fun and very political hardcore tracks it's hard not to find yourself wholly embracing the glory of this band. They've finally started to manage to pull something together, a record that is special and destructive, the sort of deal that's going to leave you crashed out on the floor begging for more. I for one am very excited to see where this release and the magic of upcoming stuff from the ever-prolific Iron Reagan take the band. As is, with two dozen new tracks to destroy stuff to, I certainly can't think of a better way to end the summer.

Find Iron Reagan on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/IRONREAGAN

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

ThermiT-Encephalopathy

ThermiT will thrash you to death. That's all there is to it. There new record Encephalopathy is the sort of thrash metal epic that brings in a little bit of everything to prove that these Poles are at the top of the scene. While ThermiT seem to be mainly focused on bringing forth the more old school elements of the thrash metal sound they certainly have more than their fair share of modern thrash goodness. Even their Metallica medley, appropriately titled "Thermitallica" touches on some of the newer elements to be brought into thrash metal in the last couple years.

From the opening bars its pretty clear, Encephalopathy very much follows the maxims of the genre and respects what thrash should be about. ThermiT don't try to break too much new ground. Yet, there are definitely some very cool new ideas on this record. The way that the band unleashes a primitive desperation, the kind that only can really be found in post-Soviet states, well, it certainly touches the heart. There is also a wonderful 'thrash metal party' aspect to the music. The bands Facebook page reveals a great fondness for beer, further demonstrating the magic of these longhaired thrash metal maniacs. Political commentary, desperation and beer, what more could ask for from a thrash record?

The high pitched vocals that roar into your heart are the sort of thing that make Encephalopathy so darn memorable. Toss in a few big choruses and you get a sense that these guys don't just want to thrash, they want to beat your skull in. Yet, they are not without a more somber side, as Night Driver proves, the band is not afraid of acoustic breaks. So, let's just leave it at this, ThermiT are a thrash band, and thrashers across the globe will love them. I am sure as their songwriting develops and they get a more clear idea of what they want to do and how to do it they will pull away from the pack and make an already strong sound even more triumphant.

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/ThermiT

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

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