This British trio from Gloucestershire play thrash the way it’s meant to be played: with plenty of attitude and aggression. The attitude primarily being: if you don’t like it, don’t listen. And the aggression being required because that’s what thrash is all about, releasing anger, frustration and venting to great music. Which to me is what makes this album well worth listening to.
The brash way “Relentless” slaps you in the face to start off proceedings is exactly what is required to get the storm rolling. The catchy guitar riff played by Jay Deakins is driven along by Alex Hawes snappy drum changes which allow Sam Shiers a brief respite on vocals to play an intricate bass riff that forces Jay to play as complex a lead to keep the standard high. Their energy is infectious and quickly gets my head bobbing.
Sam’s vocal style is an abrasive shouted roar, ala Exodus, and works perfectly regardless of the tempo that “A New Age Dawns” is being played, as it captures the required venom needed.
“Halls Of The Slain” isn’t balls to the wall speed but with its slightly slower guitar riffs, Alex gets to play far more interesting fills with intense footwork and a viscously beaten snare.
If you’re after a serious head pounding, then “Conquering The Masses” is the correct song for it. Racing along at full tilt, the unexpected tempo change for the lead break and subsequent build up back to full tilt keeps it dynamic at the same time.
A simple choppy riff is all that’s required for “Too Blind To See” because the melody riff accompanying it needs that backbone to make it stand strong in much the same way “Wrath Of The Repentant” needs the speed and changes of its riff.
With a bass intro and slightly more shouty vocals on “Sanity Deprived” the madness is almost palpable when it all crescendos during the manic guitar lead.
A truly fitting end to the album in the form of “A Bloodline Broken” when it opens with a lead and has plenty more throughout the song to give it that little bit of British Heavy Metal to go with the required lyrical content.
My only gripe is that a final spell check should’ve been done on the lyrics before sending to the printer, but that’s just me being a pendant.
(8/10 – Marco Gaminara)
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