There’s something about metal, especially thrash metal that seems to be built into the DNA of South America’s head bangers. Chilean crushers, Mayhemic have finally unleashed their debut long player after a string of singles and demo releases since their formation in 2018. Their thrash tones are swathed in a blackened aura with influences such as Kreator and Slayer. Finally, they are able to put their own footprint on the continent’s already impressive metal landscape.
Chaotic and frenetic in equal measure, opening track “Kollarbone Crushed Neanderthal” highlights plenty of that Kreator “Pleasure To Kill” styled danger in the delivery. The musicianship is clinical and on point with ruthless vocals that are stylistically there with Mille Petrozza. The hardcore punk heart of “Extinction & Mystery” is pure old school thrash before the more mid-tempo “Valley Of The Thundra”. The crunching riff has a Slayer “South Of Heaven” era feel and is a definite album highlight. The occasional step back in pace pays dividends adding fuel to the band’s fire. There’s a tidy mix of Teutonic and American thrash vibes mashed with Chilean passion. The blasting intro of “Triumph Portrait” with insane drumming accompanied by Slayer styled squealing guitar breaks and desperate, gargled vocals is powerful.
A mid album instrumental adds to the overall aura. Hints of the sounds from the first two Iron Maiden albums pop up on “Eschatological Symphony” before the unleash of a brutal, sometimes relentless feeling attack. Most tracks are short, sharp stabs with the exception of closing track “Toba”. Coming in at almost seven minutes, this is the band’s attempt at the more epic feel and they succeed. The build leads to beefy chords that contain plenty of old fashioned grunt as the pace accelerates into the finale.
Whilst “Toba” does not break any new ground sonically, Mayhemic have a certain primitive nihilism and aggression that fans of the genre should find irresistible. Fast, incredibly dark and at times just plain nasty sounding, this is an album full of focus and clinically delivered venom. The word “passion” springs to mind constantly and if this is the future of South American extreme music, then it is indeed in safe hands.
(7/10 Johnny Zed)
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