I have had a slew of top quality thrash albums in the last couple of months or so such as the Scars (Brazil), Mosh-Pit Justice (Bulgaria), Annexation (Germany) plus the awesome latest effort by Solitary (UK) and we can now add Denmark’s Demolizer to that ever growing list as thrash is having an exceptional 2020.
You can’t get away from the obvious Slayer styling that initiates opener ‘Copenhagen Burning’ that but as the song escalates you can feel the tension steadily intensifying ready for the detonation in speed which is wholly welcome. The production is vicious, possessing that ability to inflict grievous harm with its guitar sound which is one of the best I’ve heard in quite a while without drifting into a deathly style. Battering into ‘Cancer In The Brain’ the band retains the speed as their affection for Bay Area style of thrash is instantly recognisable as the massive speed dosing is similar to the likes of Evil Invaders. The scorching lead break infusions leave blisters on the air guitar fingers as the song is laced with drum fill interchanges that enable the songs tempo dynamics to keep you on your toes.
There are no fillers on this album, just your own personal highlights as one of mine is ‘Bloodshot Eyes’ which has a neat drum start that niftily shifts into a cool catchy guitar riff that will inject massive amounts of action in a pit if only because when the song picks up the pace via the double bass that is very speed metal like right before the blazing solo ignites. The sub-minute ‘Gore’ is crossover styled, Municipal Waste frenzied madness that blasts by before ‘Until The Day I Die’ completely switches style to acoustic style guitar and an opening lead break. The song is very Metallica (the 80s stuff) dramatic and atmospheric with an epic build up that all 80s thrash albums had back in the day. Tuneful and with a chunky riff the song has that feeling of bristling with energy like it’s going to reveal something, and of course it does as the song increases in density ready for a fine violent riff and powering surge in the finale that even has sporadic blasts.
‘Built On Slavery’ is a beastly number, much heavier built on the drum work which sees some more Slayer like focusing without any cloning before the Metallica soloing rains down into the song. The track is rife with tempo changes that appear out of nowhere at times, most of which flow cohesively and some that I found a little jarring but you can’t fault the creativity of the song writing as the album closes with ‘MSW’. Returning to the rasping grittier riff style the track is a shorter more ravenous affair and if truth be told possibly the weakest song on the album relatively speaking but still as rabid as a berserk Doberman nonetheless.
With so many quality thrash releases coming out worthy of your attention picking one to shell out your hard earned cash is not easy but Demolizer are definitely worth that attention.
(9/10 Martin Harris)
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