Castleaxe - Castlemaster EP

Who would have thought that the legendary speed metallers, ADX would move from France to Salt Lake City, Utah and release a new EP? Oh wait, it's actually Utah's resident traditional/speed metal band Castleaxe. Well, this band sounds a whole hell of a lot like ADX and that is definitely a compliment, because there just aren't enough bands out nowadays who have this particular sound. 

The most noticeable aspect of the music on "Castlemaster" is the vocals. For lack of a better word, they're really quirky. They hit some extremely high notes and are pretty high pitched throughout the EP, with the occasional rough vocals that are more typical of a thrash band. If you've heard ADX before, then you already know what to expect on "Castlemaster," vocally anyway. 

One major highlight on this EP is the lead playing. The melodies are all great and inserted in all of the right places. The melody on the intro to "The Philosopher's Stone" sets up the song nicely, giving it an almost epic feel. The solos are another awesome part of the music on "Castlemaster." The solos that can be found at the beginning of the songs "Eternal Konkwest" and "Ice Troll" are all fantastic. 

Normally, there would be a lot of discussion about riffs, but the riffs here are pretty standard and are focused on being fast, with a lot of melody mixed in. But there really isn't a better way to create music of this genre than that, so no complaints here. This EP is a real fun one and it's great to see bands of this style, so Castleaxe receives the highest recommendation. 

Be sure to check out and like Castleaxe on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/castleaxe

Highlights

"Ice Troll"

"The Philosopher's Stone"

Final Rating

4.25/5 or 85%. 

Top 11 Thrash Albums of 2011

So, the year is just about over and 2011 has been a fantastic year for releases in just about every subgenre. This list will focus just on the top thrash albums to come out this year, and this was actually a pretty difficult list to make, but it was made. As always, head on over to the facebook if you would like to voice your opinion about albums I left out or how much you love my list and would like to send me a Christmas card because it's just that amazing. 

#11. Evile - "Five Serpent's Teeth
Coming in at #11 on the list is Evile with their third full-length "Five Serpent's Teeth." My original reaction to this album was a very positive one and I thought it was the band's best offering to date, and I still do. But, this album hasn't grown on me like many others have and that's why it comes in at #11. This album is complete "Master of Puppets" era Metallica worship, and I happen to be a Metallica fan. 


Highlights
"In Dreams of Terror"
"Cult"
"Origin of Oblivion"

#10. Ghoul - Transmission Zero
Yes, I'm aware that this isn't a pure thrash album, but it's thrashy enough. Wanna fight about it? Good. The first time I heard this, I thought that this was Ghoul's weakest effort to date, but I also thought it was still a great record. This album has definitely grown on me more and now I love it probably as much as "Splatterthrash." That's probably just because I'm a huge Ghoul fanboy and they have yet to wrong me. 


Highlights
"The Mark of Voodoo"
"Brain Jerk"
"Tooth and Claw"

#9. Midnight - Satanic Royalty
Coming in at #9 is the black/speed assault from Cleveland's Midnight. Like Ghoul, this isn't a pure thrash album, but I make the rules around here and if I want to put Autopsy's new album on this list I will. Anyway, "Satanic Royalty" is a lot of fun and surprisingly memorable. 


Highlights
"Satanic Royalty"
"You Can't Stop Steel"
"Black Damnation"

#8. Antichrist - Forbidden World
Sweden's Antichrist, is pretty unknown when compared to the modern thrash giants but their debut album "Forbidden World" is just as good, if not better than most other "mainstream" thrash acts. If you're a fan of weird thrash, then you need to check these guys out.


Highlights
"Dark Sorcery"
"Necropolis"
"Victims of the Blade"

#7. Vektor - Outer Isolation
I had especially high hopes for this album, mainly because Vektor's previous album "Black Future" was a modern masterpiece. While this album wasn't as great as the aforementioned "Black Future," "Outer Isolation" still kicks a ton of ass. If you haven't given this band a chance then you had better do it. 


Highlights
"Echoless Chamber"
"Cosmic Cortex"
"Dark Creations, Dead Creators"

#6. Invection - Facet of Aberration
Another relatively unknown newer thrash band, Invection from the Bay Area. Even though they're from the Bay Area, they don't really sound like it. In fact, Invection is one of the more unique sounding thrash bands out today. They've got a lot of melody in their music, but they retain a high level of intensity and keep your headbanging the whole time. 


Highlights
"Derealization"
"Solace In Mediocrity"
"Two Faced Lie"

#5. Insinnerator - Stalagmite of Ice
Another band proving that you don't need to be signed to a major label to have a kickass thrash album. Texas' "Stalagmite of Ice" is a stellar album from start to finish. It's full of awesome riffs and is easily one of the best new wave thrash albums out there. If you haven't checked these guys out, you need to. 


Highlights
"Children of the Cult"
"Stalagmite of Ice"
"Nightmare Theatre"

#4. Havok - Time Is Up
Talk about some intense, catchy thrash. That's pretty much all you need to know about this album. Every song on here is great. The riffs are awesome, the drums are fantastic, the lead work perfect and the vocals are brilliant as well. 


Highlights
"DOA"
"The Cleric"
"No Amnesty"

#3. Toxic Holocaust - Conjure and Command
This has to be the biggest shocker for me. I've never been a big fan of Toxic Holocaust and most of their material just struck me as generic and repetitive, but this record is fucking great. It's their darkest, most intense and all around best album in every possible way. I guarantee you'll be spinning this album for quite some time.


Highlights
"Bitch"
"Red Winter"
"Agony of the Damned"

#2. Deceased - Surreal Overdose
This album is scary good. Every song is different from the next but they all rule extremely hard. A great mix of death metal and thrash with just the right amount of progressive elements. Some very underrated music from a very underrated band. Do yourself a favor and check it out.


Highlights
"Skin Crawling Progress"
"Kindred Assembly"
"Cloned (Day of the Robot)"

#1. Warbringer - Worlds Torn Asunder
Anyone who keeps up with today's thrash bands should know of this band and just how amazing they are. There isn't a single new band out today that can compete with these guys, in my opinion. Everything about this album is stellar, and that's that. 


Highlights
"Shattered Like Glass"
"Echoes From the Void"
"Savagery"

Resurgency/Desolator Split

First thing first, a big thanks to Hellthrasher Productions for introducing me to these two bands.  The split features Greece's own Resurgency who deliver with their solid four track demo "Dark Revival" and Sweden's Desolator with their five track demo "Mass Human Pyre," and both of these bands kick copious amounts of ass. 

Resurgency

If I had to pick one band that Resurgency resembles the most, it would have to be the almighty Vader. The vocals are pretty similar to those of Peter Wiwczarek, they're very heavy and command the band's brand of death metal extremely well. The majority of the riffs on "Dark Revival" are reminiscent of Vader as well, a lot of tremolo bursts backed with fast paced drums and blast beats. The opening track, as well as the best one "Where Despair Dominates" is very heavy on the tremolo stylings, but there is also a great headbanger of a mid-paced riff placed in between the death metal massacre and it works out brilliantly. The song "Psychosis" is a bit slower and heavier than the first two tracks, but the high level of intensity remains. The demo is ended by the sinister instrumental "Atmosphere in Chaos" and that's exactly what the song conveys. A very haunting song that sets an atmosphere, while retaining that explosive sound from the previous tracks. 

Best Songs - "Where Despair Dominates" and "Dark Revival."

Desolator


The "Mass Human Pyre" demo kicks off with the minute intro "Conjuration of the Watcher," a sample that ends with the agonizing screaming of the words "Arise! Arise! Arise!" and the transition into the title track is excellent. The track begins with a slow, muted chugging of the e-string that is later accompanied by some powerchords before turning into some full on death metal mayhem. Since this band plays death metal and they're from Sweden, you would probably expect for them to sound like just another Dismember or Grave ripoff wouldn't you? Well that isn't the case. The guitar tone isn't the chainsaw tone that we all know and love, but it's heavy and dirty and suits Desolator's brand of death metal perfectly. The vocals on here are the real show-stealer though. They sound like a great mix of Ross Dolan (Immolation) and Lars Petrov (Entombed), as they match the heaviness of Entombed but also have an evil kind of edge to them, similar to the vocals of Immolation. Again, these guys aren't your typical Swedeath band, just take a listen to the doom-laden "Feeding Frenzy." While the melodies sound like something you would hear on "Like An Ever Flowing Stream," the song is a bit more evil and dark sounding which pretty much sums up the sound that Desolator brings to the table. 


Best Songs - "Impaled" and "Feeding Frenzy."


So what have we learned today? Well, first that death metal is still alive and well, but you're not going to find it by listening to these tech-wank bands that seem to clog up the mainstream, you need to take a trip to crypts of the underground. And second, both of these bands are fantastic so check them out ASAP. 


Be sure to check out Desolator and Resurgency on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/DesolatorSwe
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Resurgency/150010435055711

Final Rating - 4.4/5 or 88%. 

Masada - Suffer Mental Decay

It's not uncommon at all nowadays for musicians who played in awesome bands back in the day to get together and form these so called "supergroups." Masada features members from notable bands such as Immolation and Goreaphobia, and they play some heavy, filthy old-school death metal. But trying to get along by using past accolades isn't enough to make a band, you have to bring the goods. Luckily, Masada does and the "Suffer Mental Decay" demo proves it.

There isn't much out of the ordinary here, just dark and vile death metal played with the intent to crush the listeners. The tempo never really strays away from the mid-paced heaviness, but when it does, the listener isn't greeted with a flurry of blast beats, only some sweet tremolo bursts that could slice through flesh ("Suffer Mental Decay"). Accompanying the signature death metal trademarks are some weird, yet very cool riffs and melodies and headbang-inducing riffs to top it all off ("Toxic Unreality"). 

With only two tracks, there isn't much more to be said about Masada's debut demo "Suffer Mental Decay." It serves as a great introduction to the band and leaves a lasting impression that will have fans anxiously awaiting some new material. 

Be sure to check out and like Masada on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/masadadasam

Randomorder - The Forbidden Knowledge

There's always an amount of skepticism every time an unknown thrash band requests a review. You have to wonder if they will be one of those bands that manages to capture something special and stands out, or if they will be just another generic retro-thrash act. Well, Australia's Randomorder is the former. This band is definitely one that should be known more, coming from a scene that is dominated by some very awesome black/thrash bands, Randomorder adds some nice variety (Not that it's needed). 

This crazy bunch of Aussies doesn't bring anything new to the table, but they have a great sound and terrific songwriting ability, making the aforementioned table completely useless and irrelevant. The most important aspect of any thrash song is always the riff, and Randomorder knows this. There are plenty of fast thrashers, as well as more midpaced moshers and technical riffs. Not only are these riffs sick, but when the band mixes them together properly, there is plenty of headbanging to be had. The track "Ghost Demons" is probably the best example of this, and so is the midpoint of the song "Caught in the Crossfire."

Along with the thrashing assault, Randomorder also provides the listeners with some sweet melodies and solos that fit in perfectly with all of the mayhem. The melodies that open the song "The Dark Science" are very cool and serve as a fantastic prelude to the wicked thrash riff that follows. The same thing can also be said about the intro of "Bloodlust," one of the better songs on the record. 

The other instruments that contribute to the overall sound on "The Forbidden Knowledge" are all solid as well. The drums provide some cool fills and add to the heaviness throughout the record, and the drummer should be saluted for his great work. The bass has a couple moments to shine on it's own, but for the most part, the bass parts are pretty standard. The vocals are top-notch. Every word comes across clearly and cleanly, but there's also a very sharp edge to them similar to Max Cavalera.

Needless to say at this point, every member delivers and they should be bought some beers for their effort. "The Forbidden Knowledge" isn't on the same level as albums by new wave giants like Warbringer and Toxic Holocaust, but it's a tremendous record that any thrash fan could appreciate. 

Be sure to check out and like Randomorder on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/RANDOMORDER/143763249239

Best Songs

"Forbidden Knowledge"

"Caught in the Crossfire"

"Ghost Demons"

Final Rating - 4.25/5 or 85%.