Seventeen years since their inception Toxik Death are releasing their second album following 2014’s Speed Metal Hell. Their music is certainly a lot quicker and aggressive than their output!
Although this five-piece are from Norway their sound has quite a bit of neighbours Sweden in it. Amidst the blackened thrash there is huge gristly lumps of Entombed’s Death and Roll and Disfear’s crusty D-Beat. Each track is played at a blistering pace with the twin guitars of A.W and T.V fire off rampant rhythms and frantic fretboard fury (I had alliteration on toast for brekkie) whilst E.F.H on bass and J.Y on skins rumble and crash keeping it all in some form of organised chaos.
H.H writes the lyrics and barks the orders on Sepulchral Demons. If you like tales of be-mulletted psychopaths and drinking you will be well on board. Be aware though this is not dayglo party thrash – this sounds like pissed off speed punk – except with tales of sadistic sorcery. Nice mix of early Sepultura and Slayer in with the speed and feel of the album.
For me the songs are all a little too long. I like things short and sharp and whilst Toxik Death are certainly sharp with the songs averaging at over 4 minutes I would prefer some trimming. However, the extended time allows for some old school guitar solos which will delight many bullet-belted folk and will allow for plenty of air-guitarring and horns to be thrown so who am I to complain really.
The lads slow things down a little for “Morbid Divination” which has an early Celtic Frost meets Amebix vibe with the vocals getting a real Anarcho punk makeover. It’s a mix that really works and shows that the band can still get things happening at a slower pace. Still some furious wrist breaking riffs here though leading to a mid-point D-beat maelstrom. Music to fling oneself off a stage to!
The final two tracks are interesting. The first “Incantation of Annihilation is a tribute to Morbid Angel and my ears seem to pick out a few track titles within the lyrics. This is a trend that seems to be gaining popularity in the metal world and reminds me of the game England’s footballers had with the media when players would slip pop song titles into their interviews at a world cup.
The final track is a belter and is also the first track that was written for the album. Undead Vengeance is pure early Slayer/ Sepultura with Araya style screams and Cavalera riffs all backed with a killer D-Beat. Lots and lots of sweaty neck wrecking fun.
Toxik Death have released a fine collection of grimy, sweaty old school punky thrash that harks back to the mid to late 80’s on both sides of the Atlantic. A lot of fun but a little long for me. I am just getting too old to mosh for over 3 minutes!
(7/10 Matt Mason)
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