This is the fourth album, the second I have reviewed by Anger As Art and if their last effort ‘Hubris Inc.’ took you by the scruff of the neck and tore your head from your body, then this new one will add the finishing touches to your decaying carcass with multiple hammer blows of awesome, earthy thrash metal. Although L.A. based, this has a more of an east/west coast harshness about it, I mix early Slayer, Overkill and Exodus with that in mind, but it’s not a copycat, let’s get that clear! If you don’t already know this band well, previous bands that current members have been involved in include Abattoir, Evil Dead, Reverend, Bitch, Hirax and Bloodlust and that’s a mighty fine list to be associated with. They also acknowledge a fallen peer on ‘Unknowing, Undead’ which is a tribute to Slayer’s Jeff Hanneman.
Tirades of aggression are a staple diet on tracks like ‘L.A. State of Mind’ and the frantic ‘Hammer, Blade and Twisting Fire’. A special mention should also go out to ‘We Hurry Into Death’ which provides more than a harsh reality check, it adds a flavoursome musical experience that sets you up for the following ‘Two Minutes of Hate’. But then, Anger As Art are more than a mere one trick thrash pony, ‘Praise of the Firehead’ has an emotive start, vocally and musically, in fact I find it akin to recent Iron Maiden epic before all hell breaks loose again. The closing gambit ‘Dim Carcosa’ adds another slap in the face and expression of power through its also varied arrangement that picks out many different sensibilities throughout its duration. All in all, you get what is says on the CD label and then some. Powerful, aggressive yes, but also this album has a level of depth a character intertwined with the chaos. To my mind, this is a very respectable album to piss your neighbours off with!
This is very real, this is old school thrash metal performed by seasoned pro’s with zero commercial bullshit, anger is indeed beautiful!
(8.5/10 Paul Maddison)
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