Artist: Sentient Ignition
Release Title: Enthroned in Gray
Year: 2017
Label: Self-Released/Independent
Genre: Technical Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1.Ascension
2.Enthroned in Gray
3.Black Lattice
4.A Thousand Ages
5.Grasp of the Infinite
6.Wardens of Intellect
7.Binding Time
Formed just in the last few years, Bay Area technical/progressive death metallers Sentient Ignition have brought a vast array of influences into a complex, challenging sound which is quite a devastating blow for a band bringing about their first offering. With the band rushing forth to offer their first professional release, the self-released debut full-length was originally released May 1, 2017.
From the beginning notes of this one, there’s a strong display of material here that gives this offering the kind of full-on charge through a progressive landscape. The fact that the vast majority of this one is based on twisting, swirling patterns utilizing challenging riff-patterns that dominate this one quite readily, making for a rather fun time here. These sweeping rhythms are based on the technicality of the riffing which is fantastic in building up dramatic moments through the utterly complex notes hit as well as the bands’ far-more-detailed ability to switch from the varying tempos here with the tight chugging, ravenous gallops and blistering thrash paces all coming to play here while expertly navigating throughout the frantic riffing alongside these tempo changes. That does manage to become quite the album highlight here, especially since there are a few minor flaws here. The biggest issue is the fact that there’s just not a whole lot of tracks to be had here with the album running through just a few tracks after the intro so it does feel rather short in spots as it really could use a few extra tracks to bump this up even though there’s still plenty to enjoy here with the epicness of the tracks as they are. As well, the fact that the guitar-tone on the album does dominate the overall production does make this a lot thinner and not as heavy as it could’ve been as this one doesn’t really pack the kind of punch others in the style accomplish. Still, for a debut offering, this one isn’t too bad and these are definitely fixable issues.
Though this one does tend to come up with a few minor issues, the fact that these are for the most part fixable as the band continues on their career, especially being a debut offering anyway which makes this a potentially intriguing band to follow for anyone into tech/death or progressive music.
Artist: Death Angel
Release Title: The Evil Divide
Year: 2016
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Genre: Old-School Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
1.The Moth
2.Cause for Alarm
3.Lost
4.Father of Lies
5.Hell to Pay
6.It Can't Be This
7.Hatred United/United Hate
8.Breakaway
9.The Electric Cell
10.Let the Pieces Fall
Three decades into their celebrated career, Bay Area thrash legends Death Angel remain as hungry as ever with an uncompromising urgency and unpredictability which has defined the group almost from the start of their illustrious career. With the reunion-era line-up continuing to sound as tight as possible and a maturity found in their years together, the quintet’s eighth full-length album was released May 27, 2016 on Nuclear Blast Records.
With the band firing on all cylinders in regards to their revival phase, there’s a deep, flowing hard-edged old-school attack prevalent on this one that takes their signature sound to great heights. Featuring their signature swirling speed metal patterns in ferocious tempos laying down plenty of hard-charging and dexterous rhythms that showcase plenty of fiery lead riff-work, tight patterns and furious rhythms that carry their frantic energy and relentless surging riff-work that make for a wholly impressive series of up-tempo work. Alongside these thrashers are efforts which drop that intensity for a more majestic, mid-tempo sprawling series of rhythms that go for a more atmospheric, melodic mood with a plodding energy and more pronounced melodic vocals than their more furious work, offering a strong and wholly dynamic variety that’s immensely appealing here. That charging, dynamic atmosphere here creates a truly ripping old-school feel as well with its multi-faceted tracks that range from the melodic epic intro that turns into the ripping thrasher to the melodic and straightforward mid-tempo breather which carries a strong old-school feel throughout here. This is certainly a case where the band is comfortable with this approach as there’s plenty of familiar moments within this one that brings to mind their past works with this approach, but for the most part it’s more of the same enjoyable elements that have always been part of their attack which makes this such a fun album.
Despite a big reliance on continuing to offer up more of the same here that doesn’t really bring along much variety or innovation, it’s a rather moot point on the album as there’s just such a vibrant, energetic old-school feel to this one throughout here that it’s one of the top albums of the year in the genre and is of extreme interest to old-school thrashers or thrash fanatics in general.
Artist: Abysmal Dawn
Release Title: Obsolescence
Year: 2014
Label: Relapse Records
Genre: Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1.Human Obsolescence
2.Perfecting Slavery
3.Inanimate
4.Devouring the Essence of God
5.One Percent Incomplete
6.Loathed in Life/Praised in Death
7.By My Demons
8.Laborem Morte Liberat Te
9.The Inevitable Return to Darkness
10.Night's Blood (Dissection cover)
Growing stronger with every release, California death metal machine Abysmal Dawn has quickly become one of the more prominent names in the modern death metal scene with their stunning mixture of old-school rhythms with more modern technicality. Being the only release by the band as a four-piece with second guitarist Andy Nelson leaving the group afterwards as well as drummer Scott Fuller decamping as well, the group’s fourth full-length effort was released October 24, 2014 on Relapse Records.
As with the majority of the modern death metal groups, the focus here is mainly on the album’s unrelenting riff-work being present first and foremost. This one really tends to go for the deep churning riff-work and charging groove rhythms commonplace in the modern scene, all given a fine technical bent that makes the tracks seem far more devastating with dexterous drumming and swirling grinding patterns cropping into the riff-work as well. This makes for a solid intensity to the album that meshes quite nicely with the other sections here where the focus is on the more old-school rhythms as the charge shifts through simplistic mid-tempo tones with sweeping riffs, dynamic drumming and blazing melodic breaks that leave this one with plenty of variety and dynamic shifts between the tracks where it goes nicely between the frantic technicality elsewhere. This does start to wear thin here as the album does come off with more of a sense of familiarity as it goes along here with this one tending to feel rather much like most other bands of the style tend to do as it goes for the kind of familiar burst of grinding brutality and technicality before switching over into a more melodic passage and really makes this struggle to retain the attention as it goes along into the second half as you’ve already heard the bands’ tricks by that point. There’s very little variety with this one that really sticks out here as it’s without fail an either/or style release, and that makes for a finely performed if overall-bland offering. Still, it’s good at what it does which makes it somewhat listenable if not a stand-out effort.
Though there’s plenty of moments where this one comes off as more one-note than it really should as the lack of real variety does wear thin here, this is still a decent enough effort when it really gets going that there’s a lot to like here for most fans of modern death metal to really enjoy and get the most out of this one.
Artist: Morfin
Release Title: Consumed by Evil
Year: 2017
Label: FDA Records
Genre: Retro Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1.Reincarnated
2.Embodiment
3.Slowly Dismembered
4.Demonic Infestation
5.Illusions of Horror
6.Posthumous
7.Contorted Truths
8.Carcinogenic Parasite
9.Consumed by Evil
Continuing their march into the past, Southern California death metallers Morfin have taken the time and effort to continue to hone their style and have furthered their old-school sound into a tighter, more devastating force than the debut offering. With new guitarist Mike de la Q and drummer Mike Andrade joining the fold in the intervening years, the group offers their sophomore full-length May 5, 2017 on FDA Records.
Much like the debut, the band is clearly still indebted to the old-school sound of the genre and takes every opportunity to remind that’s where the dominant influences come from. That comes from the tight, sharp riff-work full of deep, churning rhythms and simple, mid-tempo patterns that form the dominant variety of attack here in the form of blistering thrash-style attacks that signal the early movements in the genre. Bringing that alongside the album’s penchant for melding the raging material with simpler, less violent mid-range efforts helps to force the connection to the old-school sound by bringing the slow, sprawling swamp-riddled patterns and fiery rhythms into the forefront. This is then carried along with their rather simple structures and one-note attack to create a rather effective old-school attack at times even though it does highlight the one singular flaw with the album’s overall approach. Keeping things so simple and one-note in terms of tactical riffing style and general sonic fervor means that the album tends to devolve into a generally suspenseless and rather predictable manner where if the opening few seconds promise a raging, fiery riff then the track follows suit, and if a rather mid-tempo rhythm is present then that’s the way the track as a whole is carried out. The short burst of the tracks really lets these get featured in this manner and it’s a rather distracting effort. It’s not as detrimental as expected, but still somewhat challenging.
While there’s plenty of enjoyable elements featured here and on the whole, it’s not completely terrible, the fact that it’s few flaws are there are enough to hold it back are just enough to lower this one strictly for the most devout old-school death metal fanatics or fans of the bands’ past works.
Artist: Arcane Existence
Release Title: The Dark Curse
Year: 2017
Label: Self-Released/Independent
Genre: Melodic Black/Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1.Welcome to Storybrooke
2.The Dark One
3.Reshaping History
4.Magic
5.Bleeding Through
6.Somnumbra Atra
7.A Land Without Magic
8.Excalibur
9.To the Underworld
10.The Dark One (Dungeon Delver Edition)
Formed just in 2016, California-based melodic black/death metallers Arcane Existence have been taking their influences and running it through the deep lows and emotional highs as they adapt a storyline involving the TV show ‘Once Upon a Time.’ As the three-piece offering version of the band continues to expand and grow, the groups’ full-length debut was self-released January 6, 2017.
From the beginning, the group displays a rather adept and profound mixture of stylish symphonic elements within the melodic black/death realm. The fiery tremolo riffing is generally tight and up-tempo, raging along with a galloping pace which generates a rather fun and frantic charge here while engaging the blistering symphonics here. That is far more impactful throughout the album, going for grandiose elements that are far more dynamic than the majority of the riff-work featured here not only in terms of featuring the melodic flurries but also focusing on the massive orchestral sounds when placed alongside these engaging tremolo patterns. With the symphonics blaring along, it ends up gaining more steam along the way with the harmonies female vocals which help to greatly offset the vicious growling and deeper rhythms here and adding yet another solid melodic showcase for the band which makes for a wholly enjoyable offering overall. It does run into some minor problems here where it seems to really drop the intensity level of the arrangements around the female vocals which tend to approach Gothic style arrangements that are wholly underwhelming and take the sting out of the attack considerably as they don’t really sound close to the previous blackened arrangements. It’s something that can be ironed out over time, and being a debut this isn’t something to hold over them anyway.
Despite a few minor issues here and there that don’t really settle themselves quite easily, the fact that the over-the-top symphonic elements and melodic harmonies work so well alongside the fiery up-tempo work throughout here makes for a solid choice for fans of this kind of style or those into the melodic black/death metal style.
Artist: Warbringer
Release Title: Woe to the Vanquished
Year: 2017
Label: Napalm Records
Genre: Retro Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
1.Silhouettes
2.Woe to the Vanquished
3.Remain Violent
4.Shellfire
5.Descending Blade
6.Spectral Asylum
7.Divinity of Flesh
8.When the Guns Fell Silent
Continuing to evolve through the years, reactivated Los Angeles thrashers Warbringer have continued to utilize their continued expansion of progressive elements into their trademark sound to further their stance as one of the revival thrash scenes leaders. Now coming back to active duty following their previous lineup implosion, the groups’ fifth full-length effort was released March 31, 2017 on Napalm Records.
Taking the charge right from the beginning, it’s obvious that the break didn’t change their initial standings as the music still screams their classic vibe. For the most part, this features tight, ferocious riff-work and blistering paces that fully retain the chaotic vibe of the bands’ early material which is a prominent feature throughout here. Diving and buzzing through the various series of ravenous tempo changes featured here makes for an utterly blistering and pummeling experience, with the ferocious patterns coming from all sides and never relenting in their mission statement offering up this fiery brand of thrash. The only breaks from the all-out assault here come from the decision to drop the ravenous tempos in favor of more relaxed melodic chugging and extravagant leads that serve their heavy-handed rhythms and bombast quite nicely, giving this one an incredibly effective series of breathers that serve not only the full-throttle section of the album but gives this a rather sharp contrast to make for an even more effective work here. The brevity of the album as a whole might be something to get over, as it requires the ten-plus minute epic simply to reach a prominent length could be an issue, yet that’s really nitpicking this one and it’s quite an effective effort overall.
Full of raging, intense thrash and plenty of solid songs, there’s plenty to like and even something to love about this release which brings their legacy back to the forefront as one of the pioneers of the genre and makes for a no-doubt interest for those that liked their past work or any revivalist thrash fan as well.
Artist: Nukem
Release Title: The Unholy Trinity
Year: 2016
Label: Sleaszy Rider Records
Genre: Retro Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
1.WarWolf
2.Evelyn's Awakening
3.The Atomic Age
4.The Deceiver
5.BloodSeeker
6.T.V. Crimes (Black Sabbath cover)
7.D.O.I.
8.Lethal Injection
9.Lucida Sidera
10.Nukem All
11.Suspicious Minds (Elvis Presley cover)
Formed just in 2012, Southern California thrashers Nukem has been hitting it hard on the live front as the veteran group brings their seasoned experience to bear on their classic sound into a driving, honest thrash attack that showcases those elements quite fully. Finally making it to their first professional release, the groups’ debut effort was released September 16, 2016 on Sleaszy Rider Records.
Using their experience to the fullest, there’s an utterly ripping and devastating old-school charge throughout this one that makes for a thrilling experience. Frantically blasting away with reckless intention, the group immediately charges through a whirlwind of utterly tight and ferocious thrash rhythms that manages to include a flurry of Bay Area-inspired riff-work that focuses on all manner of tempos and patterns here. This one goes from raging full-throttle barnburners full of blistering drum work alongside the reckless riffing that packs in tons of wild chaotic soloing and frenzied rhythms, drops down into stuttering mid-tempo charges that still blitz along at a fine clip and then features solid melodic interludes spliced among its more engaging elements to leave this one with a respectful usage of older thrash songwriting structures which adds to the engaging appreciation for the old-school featured throughout here. The only thing that stumbles this one up slightly is the album’s inclusion of the two cover tracks which aren’t so bad taken out of context and enjoyed on their own, but the fact that they hold up the running time here to give the group less of a chance to make a mark is a slight disappointment given that there’s so much to like when they do make that impression. As well, there’s the little instrumental break that comes just before the album finishes up which is a rather odd placing and one that doesn’t seem to need to be there much less placed in that order in the album. Overall, though, these here aren’t in the slightest bit detrimental against the enjoyable elements present here.
With some minor issues and a boatload of surprisingly effective positives featured throughout here, this one offers up a rather interesting and impressive amount of good work here that will serve them well in their career and makes this a solid choice for fans of old-school thrash or revivalist fans in general.
Artist: Fatalist
Release Title: The Bitter End
Year: 2016
Label: F.D.A. Rekotz
Genre: Swedish Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1.Aberration
2.Bloodfest
3.Coloured Red
4.Devoured
5.Fear of Death
6.A Hollowed Shell of the Body
7.In Diluted Thoughts
8.Suicidal Aftermath
9.Symphony of Chaos
10.The Bitter End
11.Tortured Existence
Initially appearing in the mid-2000s, California death metallers Fatalist quickly gained notoriety for their sincere and dedicated approach to the Swedish variant of death metal before a disbanding before a rebirth two years later that sees the band back and tighter than ever. Being the first recorded output for drummer Griffin Figueroa after Tyler Castro left following the reactivation of the project, their long-awaited true full-length debut is released September 23, 2016 on F.D.A. Rekotz.
It’d be hard-pressed to believe this wasn’t a group of Stockholm-centered youths emerging from the early-90s scene here such is the powerful and utterly unrepentant approach this takes with the Swedeath scene. This goes for the ever-present and familiar churning riff-work that contains those loud and proud swirling patterns and charging rhythms that were commonplace in that initial scene, buzzing away with abandon while the ferocious riffing keeps this one moving forward at a grand pace. Likewise, there’s also the genre’s prototypical mid-tempo efforts that let the pace down in favor of sprawling riff-work and more prominent melodic work which gives these efforts much more of a variety compared to the type of work found elsewhere here as the most ferocious tracks here are much more prominent throughout here. Granted, this here is all to be expected to be a part of this one with the band playing so closely to the genre’s heyday that there’s not much of a surprise here in many of these tracks. It’s all too familiar and goes through too many of the scenes’ cliches that there’s not much of a real identity to the band here with them playing with these tracks in such an approach, even though there’s a competence level to the material that does make for a somewhat more appealing time here than would be expected. Still, it’s an issue that does occur here and holds it back somewhat.
Even though it’s so obviously a part of the same scene as dozens of different bands here and that nothing here is all that different from those groups, this one still carries enough of a positive charge here that this is a fine choice for the most diehard and ardent Swedeath follower while those looking for more impactful work should look elsewhere.
Artist: Testament
Release Title; The Brotherhood of the Snake
Year: 2016
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Genre: Old-School Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
1.Brotherhood of the Snake
2.The Pale King
3.Stronghold
4.Seven Seals
5.Born in a Rut
6.Centuries of Suffering
7.Neptune's Spear
8.Black Jack
9.Canna-Business
10.The Number Game
Still continuing to lead the underground, Bay Area thrash legends Testament have steadily risen in stature over the years to feature a discography that rivals many of their peers and puts them pound-for-pound as a top-tier level contender for the genre’s elite units. Following up their last album with a hiatus of only four years this time that sees founding bassist Greg Christian depart for a returning Steve DiGiorgio as well as Gene Hoglan moving from a session member to full-time drummer, their eleventh full-length album was released October 28, 2016 on Nuclear Blast Records.
As has become the norm since their late-90s resurgence, the majority of the album features the band’s now-trademark riffing style in full force. Employing their patented twin-guitar riffing style that carries this along with utterly ravenous precision, the record dives through a variety of strong, multi-tempo’d tracks that brings about a wholly vibrant thrashing energy while being able to drop back into a less-energetic but still hard-hitting rhythm for the main sections of the tracks. Mixed alongside these efforts are more simplistic, straightforward mid-tempo crunchers that are all quite adept at delving into their guitar-based muscle while easing off the throttle and providing a strong, perfectly crafted balance that makes the band so engaging and enjoyable. Their ability to adapt to these varying stylistic attacks, along with a heaping dose of melodic accessibility to match their strong riffing and tight, professionally-played performances, has been what’s made them so strong over the years and is a vital part of this one. Though these are all quite appealing for the most part, there’s still a small part of this one lacking that most important aspect of their signature sound which is the more memorable and vicious riffing. This really seems to opt for more straightforward rhythms and simplistic paces here which never really develops that one over-enthusiastic blast of raging thrash that has followed the band throughout their career, and too much of this one is stuck in the mid-tempo for the majority of their tracks and it really becomes noticeable on the second half where it’s not as engaging being filled with admittedly weak and filler tracks which is hardly a facet found in their career until now. It’s undoubtedly fun, but doesn’t extract that one factor which has been featured on their more prominent efforts.
As the band is still one of the more prominent and respected bands in the genre, this release still manages to solidly fit in their discography even with a few rather clunky, disposable tracks as the overall sense of fun established here makes this one far better than most attempts at the style and is still a solid choice for all fans of their previous work and thrashers in general.
Artist: Brute Forcz
Release Title: Brute Forcz EP
Year: 2016
Label: Self-Released/Independent
Genre: Heavy Metal
Tracklisting:
1.Phat Ass Girls
2.Death Is the Devil
3.(Ain't Gonna) Tear Me Down
4.Nightmare Hell
After initially starting their career, Los Angeles heavy metallers Brute Forcz have taken the pain and struggle of the last few years dealing with injuries, surgeries, bad finances, departures, and even death that have held up their career path. Now finally returning after a four-year hiatus with a new four-track release, this new EP brings the power-trio back together for a self-released January 2016 release.
As was present on their past efforts, the band plays a vibrant and generally explosive attack of simplistic old-school heavy metal loaded with all manner of classic heavy metal rhythms. The charging tempos on display allow the group to maneuver along through a select amount of traditional metal-inspired metal riffing that has a distinctly straightforward approach due to the constantly buzzing bass-lines rumbling along throughout here which keeps the music fairly balanced while generating the kind fiery base-line needed to make the music somewhat up-tempo and catchy. The fact that the release only features four tracks, though, brings out the main problem with the group in that they really epitomize the concept of the one-trick affair as the group is a simplistic-but-enjoyable affair when the music is a bit more upbeat and fiery but when they drop the tempos into a more relaxed chug-based attack the music is boring, plodding and exceptionally dull as there’s no real dynamics or variation to really liven things up, a feat that also manages to pop up on those livelier ones as well with the fact that there’s just not a whole lot on display here once you’ve heard the bands’ basic attack. They generate a fine tempo and enthusiastic energy, but beyond that there’s not much else here.
Being quite short and brief which really highlights the bands’ flaws quite easily and openly, there’s not a whole lot to really get worked up with about this release other than perhaps the most dedicated trad-metal aficionado or fans of this simplistic heavy metal style.
Artist: Kinnefret
Release Title: The Coming of Age
Year: 2016
Label: Self-Released/Independent
Genre: Melodic Death/Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
1.The Awakening
2.Victim Eyes
3.Losing Grips to Gain Grips
4.The Warrior
5.Salvation
6.A Far Cry for Freedom
7.Bleed Out the Sickness
8.Eternal Damnation
9.Death
10.The Prophets
11.Coming of Age
Formed in July 2011, Oakland melodic death/thrash newcomers Kinnefret have struggled with numerous lineup shuffles throughout here which whips through a series of members that continues to this day. At the time of their debut release that was independently released in May 2016, the Persian-inspired group was stable enough for a complete lineup before bass player Arses Ariamanesh left the group after the recordings.
Once this gets going, the band is quite clearly adept at their style throughout here which manages to take equal influence from the death and thrash scenes with it managing to fully utilize the kind of technical thrashing patterns as the main basis here. It’s a tight, technical series of riffing that carries plenty of up-tempo vibes throughout the running time here as these are mixed alongside more modern-sounding rhythms with hints of groove and breakdowns to generate the kind of explosive, violent feel with the choppy patterns and dynamic dual vocals helping to generate the death metal tone here. That’s in the backburner of the group, as the intensity of the more modern rhythms and stylistic melodies that crop up here are much more dominant throughout here. What also stands out quite with the album is the influx of Persian melodic accents also becoming quite prominent here in appropriate formats with minor accents sprinkled throughout the album and generating the kind of distinct flair that helps to compensate for the album’s lone falling. The main drive here being the use of the violent, vicious rhythm-work does give this a great intensity with it’s furious blasts, but it also causes this to come under so many more prominent labels here which causes the band to become yet another band in the field with this approach. While the Arabian melodies is a distinguishing factor, their more dominant aspects do feel quite similar-sounding to numerous other groups in this field.
Though it suffers somewhat from over-familiarity here due to the rather frequent use of familiar rhythms in their general approach here, this is still a highly-enjoyable and impressive debut that starts them off on a fine note which should appeal quite nicely for fans of modern melodic death metal or those looking for something else to compliment their collection.
Artist: Helion Prime
Release Title: Helion Prime
Year: 2016
Label: Self-Released/Independent (Divebomb Records reissue)
Genre: Power Metal
Tracklisting:
1.Into the Alien Terrain
2.The Drake Equation
3.Life Finds a Way
4.Into the Black Hole
5.A Place I Thought I Knew
6.You Keep What You Kill
7.The Ocean of Time
8.Moon-Watcher
9.Apollo (The Eagle Has Landed)
10.Live and Die on This Day
Formed just a few years ago, Sacramento-based power metallers Helion Prime wasted no time in setting a course for their career, as their first EP was released just a few short months after forming. Now ready to release their full-length self-titled debut February 15, 2016 independently with a reissue on Divebomb Records August 12, this release comes loaded with special guests and total science-fiction driven lyrical matter.
This is a wholly enjoyable and dynamic release that manages to get a lot of enjoyable elements here out of the bands’ striking musicianship. Rattling off straightforward riffing in a slightly technical bent while showcasing the ability to drive out swirling leads rife with speed-driven rhythms or charging along at a steady mid-tempo crunch, this basic attack is quite appealing at the diversity it affords them with the ease of switching between these varied elements oftentimes with the same track for a great progressive edge. As the riffing is slightly-technical to begin with, that extra boost as well gives this one a rather impressive charge with the bands’ science-fiction themes as that extra boost from the technicality is meshed together into a series of impressive arrangements fully encompassing those themes and atmospheres to the fullest. This strong science-fiction attitude is further greeted by the nominal power metal melodies running throughout the riff-work and just simply makes this one so rousing and energetic with the band fully able to employ those elements together into such a cohesive, competent attack that the music’s varied moods allow for a diverse, well-rounded and highly enjoyable effort. There’s one slight problem running throughout the album, which results in the band tending to be such accomplished musicians here that the need for all the guests doesn’t really seem all that obvious with them all getting mostly buried in the album so much that it’s hard to pick out what they’re doing or why they’re even there to begin with. It’s all so nicely accomplished and polished that the guests seem superfluous and somewhat unnecessary here as they tend to drag out some of the songs on the second half a little longer than what they should’ve been, but it’s not nearly a detriment at all.
On the whole this is a wholly enjoyable and impressive debut effort that gets much more right than it does not, and for the most part this here really tends to come off on the enjoyable end of the spectrum and results in a fantastic debut that will undoubtedly appeal to all sci-fi-obsessed metal fans or those who prefer the energetic side of power metal.
Artist: The King Must Die
Release Title: Sleep Can't Hide the Fear
Year: 2014
Label: Self-Released/Independent
Genre: Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
1.Confidential Confidence
2.Your Grip Is
3.No Forgiveness
4.The Mountains Wept
5.This Invisible Disease
6.The Birth of War
7.Treacherous and True
8.Notongue
9.Fall of Man
10.You Know This
11.Sinthetically Wasted
12.This Day This Life
The debut album from California thrashers The King Must Die offers a rather decent and enjoyable style here that’s enjoyable if not entirely all that memorable. Based heavily on fiery, churning riff-work and a stylish Bay Area centerpiece when it comes to the rhythms, there’s a decidedly enjoyable set-up here that does at the least come off as enjoyable about what it really wants to do here in regards to it’s energetic rhythms running through it’s tracks. Even when it settles for mid-tempo swirling rhythms and choppy, pounding drumming, there’s a sense here that the music is enjoyable and engaging without really going for the knockout blow that would be required here to let the music get that fast, intense quality that’s seemingly based upon the riffing and pounding rhythms featured. The music here seems to be stuck in a second-gear compared to what it really seems capable of, and there’s enough moments of teasing that possibility here that it seems entirely possible that’s the case here where it could’ve let loose with those up-tempo patterns that are seemingly just lurking just beneath the surface of the songs. A minor off-shoot of that comes from this one being slightly overlong with too many tracks and falling into the same repeated tempos and patterns due to having a few too many songs here, but for the most part this one isn’t as detrimental and problematic.
The first half here is an enjoyable idea of what’s to come here. Opener ‘Confidential Confidence’ features steady riffing and a series of thumping up-tempo drumming running through a rather energetic mid-tempo series of thumping rhythms with screaming, frantic leads throughout the solo section and keeping the dexterous drumming into the tight finale for a really enjoyable opening effort. ‘Your Grip Is’ uses thumping drumming and energetic rousing riff-work moving along through engaging mid-tempo patterns as the swirling riff-work keeps the stuttering rhythms along through the sterling solo section and keeps the stuttering rhythms along into the final half for a decent if still enjoyable offering. ‘No Forgiveness’ takes a swirling series of thumping rhythms and tight, pounding drumming charging along at a steady mid-tempo pace as the steady riffing along into the rousing, fiery solo section and taking using the sprawling rhythms along into the finale for a fun effort overall. ‘The Mountains Wept’ features thumping, high-energy drumming alongside heavy, swirling riff-work generating a solid mid-tempo charge as the pounding drumming keeps the steady pace alongside the tight series of thumping riffing leading into the steady, pounding final half for a much stronger effort. ‘This Invisible Disease’ uses strong, dexterous drumming and churning rhythms with tight and frantic leads throughout the stuttering rhythms leading to the fiery solo section and keeping the dexterous drum-work and pounding paces into the finale for another strong, enjoyable thrasher. The short and brutal ‘The Birth of War’ takes strong, swirling rhythms and tight drum-work along through the rousing, engaging rhythms full of thumping patterns with the swirling leads around the solo section and on into the rabid final half for a biting, blistering highlight.
The second half is another highly enjoyable part of the album. ‘Treacherous and True’ slowly builds into a steady mid-tempo series of thumping rhythms with swirling lead-work as it settles on the thumping charging pace throughout a moody, atmospheric solo section with tight rhythms carrying along into the steady, heavy finale for a fun track. ‘Notongue’ works through a steady, mid-tempo series of thumping rhythms with plenty of pounding drumming and mid-tempo paces that fires off a strong series of tight, urgent rhythms along through the dynamic solo section and offering up plenty of tight patterns along the final half for a steady, enjoyable if unspectacular effort. ‘Fall of Man’ utilizes thumping drumming and sparkling mid-tempo riffing with a steady pace rolling along into a simplistic series of swirling riffing with the fiery riff-work bringing along a more intense series of patterns into the solo section and continuing on through the thumping finale for an enjoyable and rousing highlight. ‘You Know This’ immediately takes the pounding drumming and steady riff-work along through a rousing series of up-tempo patterns with plenty of dexterous, thumping drumming carrying on through the energetic solo section and keeping the steady, up-tempo final half for another high-energy affair. ‘SINthetically Wasted’ features pummeling drumming and swirling thumping rhythms along through the steady mid-tempo charging that brings the strong riffing along through the churning solo section and bringing back the thumping, pounding rhythms along through the rousing finale for a decent enough effort that gets far better as it goes along. Finally, ‘This Day This Life’ uses simple pounding rhythms alongside swirling, churning drumming that keeps the fiery, energetic riff-work running along through the churning up-tempo paces keeping the thumping energy along through the solo section and along into the rousing final half for a rather enjoyable lasting impression.
Certainly not a debut that will set the thrash world on fire, there’s still enough fun spots here that make it a solid enough offering for those less judgmental thrash fans who will uphold this one’s positives more readily than others who may find those negative parts a bit too overwhelming to take.
Artist: The King Must Die
Release Title: Murder All Doubt
Year: 2016
Label: Self-Released/Independent
Genre: Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
1.Well Being
2.In Blood
3.Murder All Doubt
4.A New Hell You Embark
5.Choose Them Wisely
6.Reflection Spills
7.Broken
8.The Only Way We Bleed
9.For This We Live
10.These Later Years
The second album from California thrashers The King Must Die is a stylistically similar and ultimately enjoyable effort that follows the same route as the predecessor. This is still based heavily on fiery, churning riff-work and a stylish Bay Area centerpiece when it comes to the rhythms, and there’s still a decidedly enjoyable set-up here that does at the least come off as enjoyable about what it really wants to do here in regards to it’s energetic rhythms running through it’s tracks. As well, this fiery rhythm-work is given a solid counterpoint when it settles for mid-tempo swirling rhythms and choppy, pounding drumming, all coming together into a cohesive showcase. Again, being so similar in style and execution is a minor problem as there’s a sense here that the music is enjoyable and engaging without really going for the knockout blow that would be required here to let the music get that fast, intense quality that’s seemingly based upon the riffing and pounding rhythms featured. The music here seems to be stuck in a second-gear compared to what it really seems capable of, and there’s enough moments of teasing that possibility here that it seems entirely possible that’s the case here where it could’ve let loose with those up-tempo patterns that are seemingly just lurking just beneath the surface of the songs. This does fix the one minor issue from the first one as the over-bloated song-length is fixed with a more manageable track-order which gives it a slight nod over the debut but the same issues cropping up is a little troubling.
The first half here is an enjoyable piece of thrash. Opener ‘Well Being’ features rumbling, dexterous drumming and churning riff-work with plenty of sterling lead rhythms carrying along through the energetic patterns as the tight technical rhythms keep the bouncing energy along through the sprawling solo section into the final half for an enjoyable opening effort. ‘In Blood’ uses ferocious charging riffing and dynamic rolling drumming settling into a fine mid-tempo crawl as the charging drumming keeps the charge through a strong series of swirling up-tempo rhythms into the fiery solo section and keeping the up-tempo rhythms into the finale for another strong effort. The title track takes the strong, dexterous drumming and fiery riffing through a rousing mid-tempo charge with plenty of fiery melodic flurries along through the tight thumping series of mid-tempo rhythms along through the solo section and carrying through the final half for a rousing and decent enough effort. ‘A New Hell You Embark’ uses plenty of tight, mid-tempo thumping rhythms full of sprawling riff-work and plodding tempos as the rather low-key patterns give way to a rousing series of riffing into the up-tempo solo section and keeping the energy into the finale for a decent if unspectacular effort that gets better as it goes along. ‘Choose Them Wisely’ takes a strong series of rumbling drumming and tight riff-work through a series of pounding rhythms that keep the up-tempo rhythms along through the strong series of thumping patterns keeping the pounding drumming and fiery riffing into the final half for a rather fun highlight.
The second half being set-up much like the first half makes it enjoyable as well. ‘Reflection Spills’ slowly works through a slow-building intro into a steady, mid-tempo series of swirling riffing and plodding drumming keeping the thumping, plodding paces along throughout the churning mid-tempo rhythms continuing along through the steady, swirling riffing of the finale for an overlong and rather unimpressive effort. ‘Broken’ features plenty of thumping mid-tempo series of riffing alongside rather energetic and pounding drum-work keeping the thumping mid-tempo paces along throughout the pounding mid-tempo patterns and churning riff-work leading through the thumping solo section and on through the final half for another strong, engaging track. ‘The Only Way We Bleed’ utilizes thumping patterns and plenty of swirling riff-work along throughout a stuttering mid-tempo charge that keeps the strong riffing along into the strong and charging series of churning riffing into the steady mid-tempo rhythms in the charging finale for another strong effort. ‘For This We Live’ utilizes urgent thumping riffing and pounding dexterous drumming with plenty of tight, urgent rhythms keeping rather frantic rhythms along into the strong series of sprawling patterns into the solo section and keeping the up-tempo thrashing rhythms into the final half for a decent enough effort. Finally, album-closer ‘These Later Years’ features a series of thumping drumming and steady, mid-tempo drumming that keeps the steady rhythms along into a rousing series of up-tempo drumming and plenty of tight riffing keeping the rousing energy through the up-tempo solo section and along through the finale for another strong lasting impression.
Much like with their previous album, this one tends to run along through much the same work and doesn’t really offer up much of any kind of stylistic or dramatic improvements which leaves this one much the same as it’s predecessor in being more for devout thrash enthusiasts for the most part.
