Alex Nunziati is a busy chap it seems. Not only is he involved in, Lord Vampyr and Malamorte (as well as formerly Theatres Des Vampires), but this is his third solo album. Looking the Italian workaholic up on Metal Archives, it seems that he’s been in at least thirteen bands, so he has a rich vein of experience to go at when working up his own material.

Imagine my great surprise when this Italian gentleman serves up what sounds like prime German thrash from the 80s / turn of the 90’s. This by the way is a pleasant surprise. I was expecting something perhaps a little more gothic, but this could sit quite comfortably alongside Sodom material circa 1989 / 1990. What are the key ingredients at play here?

Firstly, the song writing is pretty great. Tracks like “Screams in the Fog” are war-anthems with staccato riffing, quite a dry production and Tom Angelripper-esque vocal bellows. With a great ear for a chugging riff, this album has that all important knack of bringing memorable melodies with enough grit to keep those of us with heavier sensibilities satisfied. “After The War” has a neat Slayer-esque discordant beginning before treating us to some light-speed palm-muted axe work and infectious rhythm. There’s something really honest about the music here – it’s music for thrash fans that’s clearly been written by a fan of the genre. It isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel here, but to be fair there really aren’t all that many bands playing in that old Kreator / Sodom vein any more – including the bands themselves.

The title track is really the centre point of the record, with a rock-solid foundation of head-nodding riffing and effective drum work. Given that Nunziati plays everything himself, it’s a treat to hear just how accomplished all the musicianship is. The drumming is effective and inventive; the six-string work is both great from a rhythm point of view and some great soloing. The bass is tight and the vocals fit just perfectly.

If I were to nit-pick, I’d say that there are a couple of the eight tracks here that aren’t as memorable as some of the others, but even then they don’t dip below the “good” level of performance. It’s certainly the best non-German German-thrash album from 1990 that isn’t from 1990 that I’m likely to hear this year. A rip-roaring good time that demands the wearing of white high-tops, a bullet belt and a shit-eating grin.

(8/10 Chris Davison)

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https://alexnunziati.bandcamp.com/album/impending-catastrophe