Artist: Eruption (Slov)
Release Title: Cloaks of Oblivion
Year: 2017
Label: Xtreem Music
Genre: Retro Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
1.Pharos
2.Sanity Ascend
3.Cloaks of Oblivion
4.Drones
5.Reborn into Demise
6.The Yearning
7.This Barren Existence
8.Seven Archons
9.The Prophet
Continuing to expand their boundaries, the Slovenian thrashers under the name Eruption have kept a straightforward, consistent sound infusing their Bay-Area style characteristics with plenty of soaring melodies and a touch of class rarely found in the genre. With a five-year gap between proper efforts, the groups’ third full-length effort was originally released May 2, 2017 on Xtreem Music.
Once this gets going, it’s apparent that the layoff hasn’t halted their impressive attack in the slightest as the band is able to whip out their trademark elements effectively. This one goes for the trademarked blend of crunchy Bay Area style of riffing here leading to an enjoyable mid-tempo charge that continually manages to explode into stylized thrashing sections that still retain a strong hint of melody as well. That is an incredibly appealing attack here with the major foundation laid by the thrashing energy which melds incredibly well with the infectious melodic accents as both intermingling together give this one a varied attack featuring solid thrashing fury with a fine accessibility. When this one adapts more of a melodic base for their rhythms, the bands’ melodic accents give this one a much classier style of thrash-based attack that evokes more of a trad-metal attack, rendering this one with a stylish cross-section of variety at work here with the ability to switch between these factors being incredibly fun at times. The main issue at play here also manages to emerge here with the album being quite lackluster in the final half where these efforts are generally located. It tends to go for the long-winded traditional metal stylings that produces plodding epics more than thrashing burners which does lower the energy somewhat here. Otherwise, there’s not a whole lot else to really dislike here.
While there’s not a whole lot of real flaws featured here beyond the lowered energy in the second half of the album, it does come off a lot more enjoyable with it’s strong mix of strong old-school thrash crunch with plenty of melodic accents which makes this quite strong for fans of their previous work, old-school thrashers or revivalist thrash aficionados.
Artist: BattleX
Release Title: Imminent Downfall
Year: 2016
Label: Self-Released/Independent
Genre: Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
1.Break Your Bones
2.Raise Hell
3.Final Confrontation
4.Face to Face
5.Dignity
6.The Hierophant
7.Whispers in the Sand
8.Circus of Trust
9.The Ascent
10.Imminent Downfall
Slovenian thrashers BattleX have been in existence since 2007, and quickly unleashed their first EP several years later before honing their craft in the following years before their new release. Self-released January 21, 2016 six-years after their first release, this comes off as quite a fun and enjoyable mix of traditional and thrash metal.
This is an overall enjoyable album which maintains a lot of it’s enjoyment with the fact that there’s a solid backbone to work with here as the album tends to feature the kind of mostly up-tempo series of rhythms with plenty of solid swirling riffing to bring out the thrash feel here. Those energetic and somewhat driving rhythms are taken along quite nicely here with the album’s more thrash-centered moments that are nicely worked into the majorly up-tempo numbers, and comes off rather nicely with the crunchy traditional metal rhythms throughout here. This produces a solid mid-tempo pace here with far more simplistic riffing and some stylish elements featured here to really make for a rather lighter balance to the harder-hitting rhythms. That tends to bring out the main factor against this album with the whole effort feeling quite bland and somewhat lacking in terms of the driving intensity usually required in the top-tier thrash acts, as the more trad-flavored rhythms drain a lot of the energy out of the tracks with their mid-tempo leanings. It’s not nearly as noticeable in the faster, driving sections of the tracks as that's where the true sound of the band gets released in it’s finest state, though again considering this is still a debut effort a little bit of leeway is granted at this stage in their career.
It’s not the most blistering take on the style, though there’s definitely enough working for it here that it comes off with enough rousing energy and moments of effectiveness that this is a solid choice for those looking for a more traditional lean in their metal or not a true fan of thrash wanting a little extra exposure alongside more preferential elements.
Artist: Cvinger
Release Title: Embodied in Incense
Year: 2016
Label: Art Gates Records
Genre: Old-School Black Metal
Tracklisting:
1.Chapter 1: Conjuration of the Dead God
2.Psalm, of a Hollow Man
3.Beheading the Desert Prophet
4.Enchanted Conclave
5.Weak to the Gallows
6.Chapter 2: Eye Carved upon the Serpents Stone
7.Martyr Shrine
8.Infinity of the Black Flame
9.Embodied in Incense
10.Chapter 3: Amen III
The second full-length from Slovenian black metal horde Cvinger offers another solid slab of pristine, chaotic-sounding old-school black metal to make it two solid epics in a row following their great debut. Offering frantic and brimstone scented tremolo riffing which nicely echoes the traditional second-wave acts in the mid-90s, there’s a bouncy and enjoyable up-tempo feel to the music here that contain a vicious old-school streak to their rhythms. As well, there’s the ability to meld those swirling tremolo riff-works alongside a more pronounced and chaotic series of frenzied drum-blasts that adds a blast-heavy approach to the music in conjunction to the more intense and blistering riff-work, and they stand-out all the more so on the album against the moody atmospherics featured in the lone slow, churning epic offering up some stylish variety. This alone makes it a rather strong and enjoyable enough effort to really make a strong impression here if only it didn’t rely so heavily on the use of short droning industrial interludes so often here, as there’s three of them spread out to open, close and partway through the album as a breather of sorts to set up the second half. It’s odd that this placement occurs here as it does interrupt the flow of the record where it’s just getting interesting and then breaks off into the brief, under-a-minute set-up before going through several more tracks and then back into a droning finale which is a little off-putting, yet as a tactic that was repeated from their debut it does have a minor pass associated with it going through the motions.
The first half here gets this going nicely. Set-up instrumental intro ‘Chapter 1: Conjuration of the Dead God’ uses a deep chanting speech with churning samples to set the stage for proper first track ‘Psalm, of a Hollow Man’ which features tight, ravenous swirling rhythms and utterly dexterous and blasting drumming over the traditional-sounding arrangements from the tremolo-styled rhythms that run through the fast, frantic tempos firing through the frantic blastbeats into the churning final half gets this off to a solid start. ‘Beheading the Desert Prophet’ uses immediate blasting drumming alongside the dynamic riffing with plenty of churning up-tempo patterns to the swirling rhythms that sweeps along to the mid-tempo churning tremolo patterns throughout the blasting finale for another strong effort overall. ‘Enchanted Conclave’ starts with tight, churning riff-work and blasting drumming that turns into a frenzied up-tempo blast of swirling tremolo patterns and intense leads that work along through a series of mid-tempo sprawling sections that blast back into the frenzied rhythms in the blasting finale for a wholly enjoyable highlight. ‘Weak to the Gallows’ uses a steady, slow build-up with gradual drumming and a steady churning series of riffing that holds the darkened atmosphere nicely alongside the switchover into the frenzied blasting with plenty of furious drumming and tremolo patterns on through the final half for a decent enough effort against the more explosive other efforts.
The second half is a little weaker with the interludes but still has a lot to like. Mid-album instrumental breather ‘Chapter 2: Eye Carved upon the Serpents Stone’ features dark rumbling noise and sampled screeching effects leading into next track ‘Martyr Shrine’ bleeding through with the tight tremolo picked rhythms and frantic blasting drumming with plenty of fiery rhythms charging along through the blasting atmospherics as the pounding drumming holds the steady tremolo pattern leads flowing through the finale for a strong highlight effort. ‘Infinity of the Black Flame’ features a slow-building series of churning riff-work and blasting drumming that weaves along through a sprawling series of plodding atmospheric rhythms before churning back through the blasting drumming and frantic mid-tempo tremolo riffing for the final half in another somewhat decent enough effort. The title track slowly works through rattling rhythms and tight clanking drumming that keeps the mid-tempo rhythms along through the frenzied riff-work as the feverish rhythms and choppy drumming weave alongside the buzzing riffing into the finale for a strong highlight. Lastly, the instrumental outro ‘Chapter 3: Amen III’ uses sampled crackling fire sounds and unearthly groaning against the backdrop of droning noises which isn’t that bad of a final track but just sticks out even more here with all the other interlude tracks here which isn’t all that bad of a lasting impression.
Though there’s a minor problem to be had with the album’s structure with all the brief instrumental interludes holding up the pacing, there’s still more than enough blasting chaos and frenetic bombastic on display to really make this a hearty choice for those looking for more second-wave styled black metal or are just fans of the style in general.
Artist: Negligence
Release Title: Coordinates of Confusion
Year: 2010
Label: Metal Blade Records
Genre: Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
1.Mind Decay
2.Screaming Fear
3.Addicted to Aggression
4.Disharmony
5.The Way To...
6.Insane Asylum
7.The Q Box
8.Sickened
9.Shark Attack
10.Coordinates of Confusion
The second full-length from Slovenian thrashers Negligence offers a fairly engaging and enjoyable mixture of thrash throughout here that makes for a pleasing and engaging listen. Essentially taking the cue from most modern thrash acts in utilizing the basic riff-work and driving drumming from the classic Bay-Area scene, at it’s core this is a steady revival act intent on focusing more on driving the rhythms along rather than flashy riffing or complex patterns. Instead, it tends to save that flash for their explosive soloing throughout the album, offering up plenty of engaging work with the additional use of light power metal-styled rhythms that give off sparkling bits of melodic flurries alongside the tight thrash. Offering a nice groove alongside the raging thrash riff-work, it gives this one a steady, straightforward series of rhythms that make for an overall enjoyable time here without much really holding this back beyond this one singular attack-pattern. This one doesn’t really change up much beyond the straightforward attack, keeping this one locked into a more one-note than initially expected as the variation is more centered around tempo and pacing rather than in terms of dexterous riff-work which gives this a bland feel on the second half. As well, the epic ten-minute closer is a bit out-of-place with the band clearly uncomfortable stretching their style out to that distance when their other songs were tighter and more concise which isn’t the case with that one particular track and sticking out quite obviously. Beyond these two factors, there’s not much else wrong here.
The first half here nicely sets up the album’s qualities from the beginning. Intro ‘Mind Decay’ takes immediate rumbling drumming and scorching intense riffing with plenty of dynamic rhythms pounding long to the melodic leads running alongside the explosive drumming driving the charging mid-tempo paces through the solo section and into the charging finale for an explosive, highlight-effort opening blast. ‘Screaming Fear’ features charging riff-work and thumping rhythms driving along blistering paces with melodic leads bringing along tight, pounding rhythms scattered with the melodic runs driving the solo section on through the charging final half for another exciting and ripping thrasher. ‘Addicted to Aggression’ takes rumbling rhythms and tight patterns with scores of heavy mid-tempo patterns charging along at a straightforward chug and plenty of pounding drumming carrying through the solo section and taking the scalding rhythms through the finale for a decent enough effort. ‘Disharmony’ uses a scalding grooving chug riff with pounding drumming along a dynamic stylish mid-tempo charge with plenty of heavy rhythms keeping the straightforward crunchy patterns through the scalding solo section on through the final half for another stellar highlight. The mid-album instrumental breather ‘The Way To…’ uses harmonious middle-eastern melodies over swirling guitar-work makes for a fine interlude that doesn’t really damage this one way or another.
The second half isn’t all that bad but doesn’t have as much enjoyable aspects as the first half. ‘Insane Asylum’ uses a stylish series of swirling rhythms over a galloping mid-tempo charge with plenty of thumping, driving drumming bringing along more intense patterns driving the charging rhythms along with the raging riff-work throughout the blistering solo section and on through the explosive finale for an exciting highlight. ‘The Q Box’ takes strong swirling riff-work and plenty of pounding rhythms alongside the stellar mid-tempo crunch offered with the heavy, thumping rhythms holding off the sprawling chug-riffing through the blazing solo section and charging throughout the final half into another strong effort. ‘Sickened’ uses a steady, mid-tempo charge with the pounding drumming keeping the intense rhythms along throughout the melodic early solo section and into a sprawling mid-tempo charge featuring plenty of driving riff-work with pounding drum-patterns keeping this driving into the secondary solo section finale for a decent enough offering overshadowed by the other great tracks elsewhere here. ‘Shark Attack’ settles nicely from a gradual lead-in to a steady series of charging mid-tempo riffing with plenty of pounding drumming and a strong series of chugging grooves leading into the solo section and through the finale for another strong effort overall. Lastly, the album-closing epic title track takes rattling drumming and a steady series of swirling riffing charging along at a steady pace with strong pounding drumming and a variety of extended varied sections offering tight, sprawling patterns and dexterous drumming leading into an extended acoustic guitar fade-out for the finale to end this on a decent-if-unsatisfactory note.
Though it’s somewhat undone by a few middling areas that in the grand scheme of things aren’t all that detrimental, this one more than holds itself up as a solid, engaging listen with plenty to like about it and earning itself a listen from those who cannot get enough revival-flavored thrash or are simply curious what other countries have to offer the market.
