Runa (Pe) - Bullets of Annihilation EP

Artist: Runa (Pe)
Release Title: Bullets of Annihilation EP
Year: 2015
Label: Self-Released/Independent
Genre: Death/Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Lustful Death
2. Bullets of Annihilation
3. Whispers of the Past
4. Evil Rites
5. Pest

The debut EP from Peruvian death/thrash metal newcomers Runa is a decidedly offers a rather fun and enjoyable take on the old-school scene that showcases their homeland nicely. As with the majority of the South American extreme metal scene, this here is drenched in raw, old-school death metal rhythms that are played rather frantically and intensely in toughened thrash environments which makes the music that much more energetic and lethal which gives off the kind of dirty, thumping vibe with the riff-work a big part of that. Taking stylistically simple-but-engaging riffing and dynamic, thumping rhythms that drives along at great speeds with the occasional drop-off into churning mid-tempo rhythms for select intervals, it makes for enough variety alongside the old-school style to create a wholly impressive attack here. It does run into a rather minor issue here where the material comes off like a rather rudimentary styled South American old-school death metal band for as vicious as it gets in it’s attack there’s little else original about the music throughout here. It runs through a lot of familiar arrangements and patterns that come into play for numerous other groups in this style with the raw working style featuring simplistic rhythms and can make the band blend into that whole scene very easily. As well, the shortness comes into play with this one not even running twenty minutes long with all the tracks barely over three minutes when a little more could’ve made this a lot of fun. It’s still enjoyable enough with these issues though.

On the whole there’s a lot to like here. Opener ‘Lustful Death’ runs through furious drumming and tight thrashing riffing blazing with fiery leads blazing alongside the rather frantic rhythms leading into the sprawling melodic sections toning down the rumbling rhythms before picking them back up leading into the driving final half for an impressive and dynamic opening effort. The title track takes a steady intro with dynamic dexterous drumming settling on a frenetic series of mid-tempo thrashing riffing full of explosive up-tempo patterns and pounding drum-rhythms keeping the steady up-tempo riffing driving along throughout the solo section and carrying the energetic riffing on through the finale for another impressive highlight effort. ‘Whispers of the Past’ slowly builds from a gradual intro into a steady mid-tempo marching gallop with steady rhythms and dexterous drumming flowing through a steady mid-tempo pace with tight riffing leads sweeping through a more energetic series of patterns in the final half for a decent and enjoyable effort. ‘Evil Rites’ features steady drum-work building alongside the sprawling riffing into ravenous drumming and screeching thrash riff-work dive-bombing throughout the frantic, urgent rhythms leading into the solo section and rumbling along to the blasting drumming into the finale for another solid and engaging effort. Finally, ‘Pest’ uses steady pounding drumming and build-up riffing to lead into blasting drum-work and scorching thrash riffing with plenty of energetic rhythms running along throughout the blasting patterns leading through the solo section and keeping the rhythms charging into the final half for an enjoyable lasting impression here.

Though it gives off the hints of its homeland far too often and seems just a touch on the short side, there’s plenty to enjoy about this release and gives this the kind of appeal in the years to come from those that love the South American style of death and/or thrash metal as this seems like a promising band to follow in the years to come.

Score: 83/100

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Maze of Terror - Ready to Kill

Artist: Maze of Terror
Release Title: Ready to Kill
Year: 2016
Label: Empire Records
Genre: Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Rotting Force
2. Lycanthropes
3. There Will Be Blood
4. Violent Mind of Hate
5. World's Dead Side
6. Bringer of Torture
7. Protectors
8. Executio Bestialis
9. Blooded Past, Burning Future
10. Gilles de Rais

The debut album from Peruvian thrashers Maze of Terror features quite a wide amount of work here to give this one of the most impressive and engaging debuts in the genre in a long time. From the start this one manages to feature the kind of ravenous, swarming thrash that’s built on the revivalist trends of aping the bay-area attacks from the past, leading to utterly stellar riffing dripping with speed, taking the sort of frantic rhythms and pounding drum-work carrying the kind of arrangements expected to be found in that style. There’s a savage serie sof riffing on display that comes from the swirling, up-tempo patterns here where this one really brings up some imaginative and varied attacks to the table that enables this speed-driven style to stick out even better by being surrounded by the dynamic change-ups offered. It enables a far more intensive effort here with this one creating such an infectious and ultimately appealing when it thrashes away with reckless abandon while still offering the kind of dynamic and varied approaches to the craft that it manages to keep from being a one-trick affair. Though it still manages to keep the same rhythms running throughout here when it is thrashing along lending to some tracks bleeding together it’s such a minor detriment as to be almost completely useless and overdrawn here.

The first half here provides an engaging and enjoyable start to this one. Intro ‘Rotting Force’ uses howling winds and a sampled countdown to turn into an utterly frantic and raging series of swirling rhythm alongside pounding drumming keeping the utterly dynamic patterns racing at full-throttle speeds into the chaotic solo section and carries through the final half for an explosive and enjoyable opener. The utterly frantic ‘Lycanthropes’ features swirling riff-work and fiery rhythms charging along through a frantic mid-tempo series of rhythms with steady riff-work bringing the charging intense paces along through the intense paces charging along with plenty of blistering drumming in the fiery solo section into the charging final half for an utterly enjoyable highlight track. The brutal ‘There Will Be Blood’ uses thumping intense rhythms and pounding drumming into a frantic mid-tempo series of thrashing riff-work buzzing along to the utterly frantic drumming blasting through the utterly frantic and chaotic rhythms twisting through the solo section into the finale for a truly frantic and enjoyable effort. ‘Violent Mind of Hate’ takes a thumping mid-tempo drumming intro into a thrashing mid-tempo series of tight thrashing riff-work and pounding drumming charging along on a fairly steady pace that launches into the molten solo section on though the charging final half for a decidedly decent effort. ‘World's Dead Side’ uses a swirling series of riffing building to a frantic charging pace with plenty of thumping rhythms buzzing along with the twisting riff-work blazing along with the fiery solo section and extended instrumental interludes leading through to the extended second half on through the finale for an over-the-top and explosive highlight.

The second half carries on the good-will from the first half. ‘Bringer of Torture’ uses a droning bass-line intro that settles into a fine mid-tempo pace with steady riffing and plodding drumming that keeps the same rhythms charging along throughout the same mid-tempo pace leading into the fiery and frantic thrashing through the blistering solo section on into the final half for an awesome finish to a bland beginning of this one. ‘Protectors’ features thumping stylized riffing swirling through a steady up-tempo pace with pounding drumming and frantic blasting chugging throughout the steady patterns along the sprawling mid-section rhythms as the frantic rhythms fire through the solo section into the finale for an enjoyable if not spectacular effort. ‘Executio Bestialis’ features a tight mid-tempo series of buzzing riff-work blazing away into scorching up-tempo rhythms thumping along to utterly blistering patterns charging along through utterly infectious riff-work dripping with plenty of speed into the blazing solo section and on through the chaotic final half for another engaging highlight. ‘Blooded Past, Burning Future’ blasts through explosive, tight rhythms laced with blistering drumming and explosive buzzing riff-work through utterly frenzied patterns leading through the solo section and continuing on into the frantic finale for a fun, engaging short bruiser. Lastly, the epic album-closer ‘Gilles de Rais’ takes a slow-building twist through the steady rhythms and mid-tempo churning riff-work that explodes into the raging series of thrashing riff-work that keeps the insane blistering speed continuing on throughout the extended mid-section patterns carrying on into the chaotic solo section and keeping the extended speed driving throughout the elongated final half to truly end this on a spectacular ending note highlighting the grandness of this one in fine fashion.

This here is a near-perfect assault of blistering, finely-formed thrash that plays with such conviction and enthusiasm that it can win over any audience out there and perfectly paves the way for the band to set out on their career, leaving this one to obviously settle in so well for revival thrash fanatics or fans of the old-guard looking for the young generation to make an impression.

Score: 99/100

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