IRON VOLTAGE - Devastation (2022)

 Finally let loose digitally, wide eyed, rabid and foaming at the mouth, we have Indonesian thrashers Iron Voltage. These guys come from the Exodus school of thrash, you know the type, extra crunch, extra riffs and some exceptional headbang inducing slower breakdowns. 

HORRID SIGHT ~ Evil Made Flesh (2022)

The last track 'Somber Dust' has just finished and I feel like I've been mauled by a pack of wolves then fed through an industrial cheese grater! This is an album of relentless fury and death/thrash savagery. Most of the tracks are between four and six minutes long which is perfect for allowing wailing, screeching solos to waltz with excoriating riffs in various merciless tempos.

I wish I had persevered with a 'best of' list for 2022 as 'Evil Made Flesh' by Mexican band Horrid Sight would most certainly have occupied a place within it.

OVERSHOOT - Arbitrary Diagnosis (2018)

 Arbitary Diagnosis  is the only release so far from Indonesian band Overshoot. There is the occasional nod to the likes of Stormtroopers of Death with the staccato vocals of  Wahyu Andryan sounding similar to Billy Milano in parts. However, Arbitary Diagnosis is a more aggressive affair, the crunch of thrashing riffs causes inner ear trauma and don't lose their potency when hurling at hyperspeed and the faint 'crossover' influence steps tentatively into the path of death metal rather than hardcore or punk.

BLOODSOAKED MACHETE ~ Blood Soaked Machete (2022)

Carniverous death/thrash with Slayeresque solos shrieking in agony. The songs are mainly mid paced but accelerate with maniacal ferocity before frequently impaling the listener on colossal groove barbed hooks.

BRETHREN HOGG ~ Relative Swine (2022)

There's nothing soft and mushy about Brethren Hoggs's brand of stoner. Fuzz has been stripped away leaving rusty bare metal that rocks hard. Each face Brethren Hogg shows us is uncompromising, stoner riffs have a grungy groove, forays into doom are lean and heavy with slow paced thrash like riffs laced with a faint whiff of Mastodonish prog.

ARES KINGDOM ~ In Darkness at Last (2022)

US death metal relentless in its savagery. In Darkness At Last the latest album by Ares Kingdom matches the tradition of the bands earlier catalogue of releases of not allowing any room to breathe. Its a full on thrashing death experience. Place the cursor anywhere on any track and you'll be torn apart by a landmine of incendiary riffing.

File under V for Vicious.

DEATHSTORM ~ Blood Beneath The Crypts (2016)

Most thrash bands can be labelled within a particular narrow band whether it be Bay Area, Crossover of 'sounding like' Slayer, Exodus, Kreator etc and thats fine with me as long as it gets my head nodding and feet tapping. What elevates Deathstorm ( The Austrian version) above the majority of its peers is the fact that this band never rests on its laurels in one place. The tempo shifts from one album to the next, track by track, all slay mercilessly whether slashed to pieces by speed, chopped up and diced by mid tempo crunch or simply dragged to your knees by death metal influences.

There is a three track demo cassette ( Swarming ) due in November through Dying Victims Productions that brings yet another chamelionic shift, this time into the era of late 80's American thrash with a slightly rawer sound akin to Dream Death circa Journey Into Mystery.

CONVULSIS ~ An Evil Born From the Void (2022)

Wow! That was over in a heartbeat! Time flies when you're having fun. I've just finished listening to this sweet litlle headbang inducing EP from Michigan's Convulsis. Thrashing riffs slice and dice while the breakdowns run whats left through the grinder. Add a touch of death metal and what you have here is a potent, rabid slashfest.

File this under 'More Please!'

 

VANDAL ~ Repudio tu Existencia (2017)

Chilean thrash along the lines of Destruction that doesn't break too many rules.Vandal know how to tear shit up. Choppy riffs slice and dice in blood letting glee, while breakdowns gouge and cleave what little remains. There isn't any waste here, all ten tracks are lean and hungry!

'Repudio tu Existencia' is the bands only full length so far and is a true reflection of how essential the Chilean thrash scene is to underground metal.

MENTAL SLAVERY ~ Kill For Peace [EP] 2019

The third EP from Russia's thrash/crossover band MENTAL SLAVERY and it does exactly what every release of this ilk should do, riffs slash, lacerate, cut, chop and flagellate at incessant speed like a rabid EXODUS. Even with the speed set to def-con maim, each song is held together with a bond of steel..these guys can play!

The best thrash albums are over before you know it and 'Kill For Peace' is one of them, there's no let up at all, the entire EP gallops at a relentless pace, all four tracks created to mete out the maximum possible punishment.~ DEATHRATTLE PODCAST

DEATHMACE ~ Bleeding Frenzy (2018) Full Album