Thrash metal – Page 55 – Wonderbox Metal

The Meatfückers – Porn Again (Review)

Mexican Black Metal band The Meatfückers have released their second album Porn Again and are ready to challenge all comers to a competition of sexual perversion!

This is primitive Black/Thrash, crudely recorded and brutally played. The sound is definitely Old-School, with an almost vinyl-like fuzz to it, (probably intentional), but if you like all things nasty and retro then this shouldn’t put you off.

The songs are caked in a firm grime of unidentifiable origin and they rip and thrash their way through nine of them in 27 minutes. Primitive it may be but there’s evidence that there’s more to this band than just Neanderthals throwing rocks at instruments – the odd riff here, a solo there – these guys actually do know what they’re doing. And what they’re doing is bringing the filth.

Favourite Track; Bitch Seeker. A solid Metal main riff and sexy solos make for a memorable song.

Unashamedly rude and crude; for when you’re in the mood for debauchery and lewdness wrapped in raw fighting man’s Metal – then look no further.

Omnivore – Omnivore (Review)

The intro alone gets the blood pumping and really builds expectations for the first track Dead. These Italians play an Old-School Thrash/Death Metal hybrid and wield an artisan’s knowledge of both genres to create a Thrash-heavy release with a rabid Death Metal core. Dead thunders out of the speakers and the expectations are met.

The bass is quite prominent on this album and it’s a very welcome change from most bands – it lends another level of sound to these thrashing monsters of songs. So here we have all of the ingredients of a great album – audible bass; galloping riffs; relentless drumming; shredding solos; dynamics; memorable songs; Thrash Mania!

The vocalist presumably has a side-job of stripping paint, as he certainly sounds capable with his Old-School Death rasping.

It’s like the last couple of decades or so didn’t happen; this is of the time of the classic Thrash and Death greats and even boasts a production sound similar to that era. Old-School this may be but this kind of Metal will never die so it’s right that there are bands out there still producing Thrash/Death of this calibre.

Oh, and did I mention they cover Sepultura’s Arise…?

If you like your Thrash pounding with a heavy dose of Death then Omnivore are for you.

Rusted Brain – High Voltage Thrash (Review)

Rusted Brain. High Voltage Thrash. Does exactly what it says on the tin.

Oh but this is good stuff. A strong Metallica influence, and plenty of speed and aggression make for a thoroughly breakneck, enjoyable experience. The listener is left clinging on for the ride as the band Thrash about with real feeling, intent and conviction.

The songs are fast, the vocals strong, the guitars attack, the solos shred, the drums seemingly endless – this is the stuff proper Thrash is made of!

A short album at only 28 minutes, but this is to be expected. This is their first album, and gives Rusted Brain a solid foundation to build on for the future. I look forward to what comes next!

Besegra – Infortunium (Review)

Canada’s Besegra appear to have found the perfect melding of Thrash Metal and Melodic Death Metal. There is a natural overlap between these genres anyway, but Besegra happily operate on the edge of both worlds and bring them together into one compact 29-minute release.

Lots of high-octane melodics and leads punctuate these tracks, and the band capitalise on this energy by throwing everything into their attack and delivery. A strong first release; the songs are well composed and played with talent and skill.

Besegra know how to pepper their sound with solos and lead work without it feeling overwhelming or like a contest. I’m quite partial to a good solo, and there is a woeful lack of it in a lot of bands, so it’s nice to hear.

The vocalist spits his lyrics out like they are too hot to voice, giving the tracks a feeling of, (almost), melodic Black Metal at points. His is a kind of raspy shriek that lashes out over the top of the guitar melodies and double-bass drumming. I feel it was the right choice for this band as more Death-y vocals could have sounded clumsy against the razor-sharp riffing, and a cleaner delivery may have diluted the sound somewhat.

Check out Besegra and see what you think.

Mason – Warhead (Review)

Australian metallers Mason are a Thrash Metal band with a really lovely crunch to their guitar sound. Elements of Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer – all can be heard in their sound and act as useful reference points for new listeners but Mason certainly have their own identity.

This album is jam-packed with riffs, hooks and catchiness. A high-quality, punchy production ensures the songs have maximum impact, with the band making the most of this by showing that they know their way around their instruments.

The vocals don’t let the rest of the package down either – they are full of character and passion, and capture the essence of the great Thrash singers of the 80s, (and beyond).

Mason have released such a strong album it’s hard to believe this is only their debut, especially with one Jeff Loomis, (Nevermore), adding a solo to Lost it All. If it’s good enough for Jeff it’s good enough for me.

And let’s face it – isn’t that just a great album cover?

Ragestorm – The Thin Line Between Hope and Ruin (Review)

Italian Death Metal band Ragestorm chainsaw their way out of your speakers with enough introductory brutality and modern Thrashy Death Metal know-how to raise the odd eyebrow or two. Then the vocals kick in and you know you’re in for a wild ride. Alternating between deeper and darker, and higher and sharper, the singer can strip paint and cut skin at 100 paces.

This release boasts a tight, precise sound that helps the carnage come alive as it rips and tears everyone around it with a surgical slaughter. The songs are heavy and the band can play.

This is the kind of Metal that excites as it bludgeons. Death Metal it may be but there is also a firm Thrash sensibility at play that informs the songwriting dynamics with more than just mindless brutality. I can also hear a Lamb of God influence; particularly in the vocal department on occasion in certain vocalisations and vocal rhythms and patterns. As for the music I can hear similarities to Byzantine in places. So; imagine Lamb of God and Byzantine coming together to play some tasty At The Gates-style Melodic Death Metal; this should give you a good place to start with the sound they have. They also have guitar solos, which immediately makes me like any band just that little bit more.

This is just their début album and there is already plenty of ideas and talent on display to last them a few albums to come. These ideas are spread out over the entire album, but find a focus in Hari Seldon’s Speech.

A really good collection of songs and a really good start to what will hopefully be bigger things to come.

Top stuff.

Kuazar – Wrath of God (Review)

Kuazar are a Thrash Metal band from Paraguay with a good Death Metal influence in their sound; they have the bite and aggression of old-school Kreator mixed in with some old-school Death Metal from the likes of Death.

The important thing here is the songs. The recording may be relatively low-budget compared to some, (but that’s not to say it sounds bad, quite the reverse), but no expense has been spared in the songwriting. Each track has good riffs, tight drumming and a thought for dynamics and structure.

This is an almost-relentless Thrash attack. But not completely. They may be aggressive but they still have some melodic flourishes and solos aplenty, as well as some moments to catch your breath such as Inner Prison.

The vocals for the main part are raspy and full of bile. Mixed with some almost-clean passages and Death growls the singer offers more than might have been expected and overall puts in a very good performance.

This is undeniably a high-quality album. It’s a couple of years old now so I’m hoping they may have something new to unleash on the world soon. To my mind the world can never have enough great Thrash. Highly recommended.

Hi-gh – Night Dances (Review)

Speed Metal played with plenty of melody and punkiness. With a low-rent album cover and low-rent sound, will the songs be similarly low-rent? No! It seems that all of the effort has gone into the songs to make them as pleasurable and memorable as possible.

The recording is not a bad one, it serves its purpose and allows the tracks to roll along on their speedy way. This is Speed Thrash made for the love of all things crossover, and not without talent either. This band know how to play as hard as they know how to have fun. Technicality added to an ease of riffing that combines to create something truly enjoyable, that seems to just slip into your consciousness and act like it’s always been there.

If they can keep this up for their next release then there should be a bright future in store for this band.

Woslom – Evolustruction (Review)

This is thrash Metal played mainly in a more modern style but with a real feel for the old-school nonetheless. Think somewhere between the Teutonic thrashings of Kreator and the more US style of Testament.

This album certainly has some bite, with the guitars alone having plenty of attack before you even factor in the other instruments. Songs are well played and recorded, with juicy Thrash riffs, liquid solos and a vocalist that can compete with the best of them.

The songs are memorable and full of nice hooks and vocal lines. Walking the line between melody and aggression they successfully straddle both worlds delivering an album that any Thrash fan would happily bang their heads and fists too.

These songs have grown on me, as all good music should, and I do not hesitate to recommend this band to you. Thrash will never die; bands like Woslom won’t let it.

Soul Remnants – Black and Blood (Review)

Soul Remnants play song-based Death Metal with a nice thrashy edge to it. Predominantly USDM-style, they are not afraid to mix it up with the occasional keyboard highlight, some slightly more Black-Metal-esque passages, variety in vocals, etc. Eight minute epic Dead Black (Heart of Ice) is a perfect example of this. Mixing Death and Thrash is not too uncommon; less common however is integrating the odd Black Metal riff or section into the boiling pot, especially when it works well and seems natural.

Working with the confines of the Death Metal genre this is a surprisingly diverse album. They can, (and do), blast with the best of them of course, but they also do more than just that. Melodic, emotive passages sit comfortably next to brutality and harshness. Some good lead work over a solid structure of riffing and percussion means that they are clearly in touch with their thrash side while comfortably remaining of the Death Metal camp.

And there are some galloping riffs here! It’s hard to fault this album when it comes to the riffs and the feelings they evoke. Whether they are going for the throat or want to convey a sense of crawling malice they hit the spot. Solid songwriting and dynamics elevate this album higher than most.

This is the band’s second album – based on this release I wish them many more in the future.