With a name like Evil Force, this
Paraguay-based thrash metal band is anything but subtle. Unsurprisingly, their
second full-length record, “Banging on the Pentagram”, sounds like it was
unearthed from the very darkest depths of the underworld. Boasting the
ever-wide variety of influences from Motorhead to Venom to Midnight, Evil Force
is a black/thrash band that is possessed to take your soul with their demonic
hymns. This group is faster and more aggressive than any of the aforementioned bands,
but their intent is clear: to make dirty, satanic thrash metal.
The band’s enthusiasm is definitely
infectious. “Banging on the Pentagram” is not exactly the best collection of
songs, but it’s hard to deny how forceful the riffing is, and the authenticity
of the band’s sound. The production is clear enough to hear every instrument,
but retains a noisy, cavernous sound with plenty of echo. This atmosphere gels
with the band’s propensity towards shouted vocals, wild guitar solos, and
slightly more complex punk-influenced riffs. Sometimes the band's inspiration deviates slightly
from an otherwise one-dimensional sound. “Devastation Time”, for example, opens
with some early Iron Maiden-worship, while “Offering to Horus” has a riff that
is very clearly an homage to Metallica’s “The Four Horsemen”.
Evil Force does not have a particularly
unique sound, but they are skilled at what they do. There aren’t a lot of
individual highlights on this record, aside from the painfully catchy gang shouts of “Toxic
Warfare”, but it is a cohesive release that is sure to please fans of this
style. “Banging on the Pentagram” may be a step or two below the works of the
subgenre’s elite, but it is an admirable effort that is worth more than a few
spins!
Highlights
"Banging on the Pentagram"
"Toxic Warfare"
Final Rating
3.7/5 or 74%.
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