Greek thrashers Speedrush have been knocking about since 2005. The Athens wrecking crew aren’t high on output and “Division Mortality” is just their second full length release following on from 2017’s debut “Endless War”. Don’t let that distract you though; these guys go hard with a brand of thrash that melds old school intensity with an exuberance that is intoxicating.

Opening with the title track and a brief spoken word intro, a mighty Judas Priest inspired slab of metal bursts out of the speakers. Chugging riffs accompanied by urgent, wailing lead guitar set the standard before the pure ‘80’s West Coast thrash of “Ride With Death”. Very much in the Megadeth mould, it’s a head-banging-horns-raised-in-the-air belter. Nir Beer’s vocals have a MegaDave styled snarl that mixes with a gnarley Tom G Warrior raw animalism. “Painkiller” era Priest influences loom large over this album which is no criticism at all. Plenty of widdly lead guitar work and venom in the vocal delivery give proceedings a real edge. Tracks like “Sons Of Thunder” show off the album’s clean production which provides plenty of space between all the instruments and gives it a clinical, cutting edge.

Firmly focussed on heads-down fury, there are welcome moments where the pace briefly steps back to a more mid-tempo beat which is effective on tracks like “Divine Damnation”. The riff becomes sinister and has a black metal inflected tautness that sounds like Venom mixed with a little NWOBHM melody. “Iron Wisdom” and “Beyond The Vortex” throw in a little punk-edged angst which gives these two numbers a caged, primal feel. The acoustic outro “Fade To Flames” is unexpected; a Spanish styled, melancholy aura that could be straight out of a Metallica album from their commercial period, it feels at odds with the rest of the album and being a closing track it doesn’t provide what is perhaps meant to be some light amongst the darkness.

Overall, “Divine Mortality” is an old school thrasher at its’ heart. Speedrush have conjured the essence of the genre and it is a head banging joy. What is very obvious though, is a group of lads who are thoroughly enjoying themselves. This album is just one of those that gives pure metal enjoyment.

(7/10 Johnny Zed)

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https://jawbreakerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/division-mortality