Whether or not you have been a fan of many
of the bands of the thrash resurgence we’ve seen since 2008, one thing that
almost everyone can agree on is that Vektor rules. For that reason, it is no
surprise that we’re finally starting to see bands take influence from Vektor.
Perhaps more accurately, however, is that there seems to be a renewed interest
in technical thrash metal. This is where Euphoria comes in. Their debut album, “Operation:
Genesis”, was released earlier this year and is one of the more exciting
releases in a year already overflowing with thrash.
As noted above, Vektor is certainly a
primary influence on this record. This is evident from Euphoria’s vocalist, who
employs a shrieky black metal rasp not unlike David DiSanto (though he ultimately stays within the realm of thrash). His voice is
absolutely twisted, as he tears his vocal cords to shreds consistently throughout the
record. There is no way that this style can be healthy, or even sustainable,
but since this is Euphoria’s first record, that doesn’t seem to be a problem yet.
Put simply, his voice rules because it is so wild. This is best evidenced by
the opening scream to “Cyberschizophrenia” (more on this track later).
Where Euphoria differs from Vektor is their
musical approach. Certainly more technical bands are the largest influence
here, but they would lean more toward bands like Realm, Heathen, late-80s
Destruction, or any number of other tech thrash giants. The riffing is intricate
and extremely tight. There is no shortage of speed, though the band’s mid-paced
moments are definitely their weakest. Euphoria is at their best when they sound
totally out of control, a feat that they achieve on “Cyberschizophrenia” better
than any other track. The riff that opens this song will immediately cause a
giant pit, and lead singer Justin Kelter’s scream of the title will only incite
more rage. No other track manages to capture this same sense of urgency and
chaos, which is not so much a fault of the other songs, but rather a strength
of this particular track.
The remainder of the album comes and goes
with less fanfare. There are no awful songs, but nor are there many highlights.
Euphoria executes everything with extreme precision and showing substantial
thought being put into their song structures and transitions. They may fall one
step short of some of the leaders of the genre, but have still created a unique,
worthwhile release that is deserving of attention, even amongst a crowded 2016.
Highlight
"Cyberschizophrenia"
Final Rating
4.2/5 or 84%.
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