Blindeath – Into the Slaughter

Blindeath is another Italian thrash band. Like many of their peers, this band is relatively new, having only been around for a few years. They previously released one demo and an EP, and in 2014, put forth their first full-length effort: “Into The Slaughter”. The general sound on this release is what you would expect from an Italian thrash band: lots of good riffs, somewhat distinctive vocals, and plenty of speed. The singing is the primary differentiating factor here from the legions of Italian thrash bands. The vocalist for Blindeath is somewhere in between a singer like Paul Baloff and a more blackened thrash vocalist. In that sense, his vocals are aggressive, but feel a little sloppy. This isn’t a bad thing; in fact, it really shows a nice homage to vocalists who take more influence from the rougher side of metal.

Aside from the riffs, the guitar work is pretty impressive. Opening track “Blood and Guts” has some extensive soloing, and, as you might imagine, it is virtuosic without feeling technical. This is something not contained to this track, as solid guitar work is apparent all throughout the album. The riffs tend to be largely in the Exodus vein (though as “Blood In Blood Out” just proved, nobody can even come close to matching Exodus’ ferocity). Occasionally there is something a bit different, such as the pinch harmonic abuse in “Murdered By The Beast”. Nevertheless, if you are seeking innovative riffing on “Into The Slaughter”, you won’t really find it. That statement applies equally to the songwriting as well. In fact, as much as it will pain some people to hear it, the best songs on this release are the two mosh anthems: “Moshing Maniax” and “Welcome To The Thrash Party”. These songs provide a feast of riffs and headbanging material that is sure to please thrashers (though to be fair, that applies to every song here; these two tracks just do it best).

As you may have guessed, this album does not reinvent the wheel. While not sounding identical to any other specific Italian thrash band, one can’t help but feel tired out by this point. This scene is so deep, and, with few exceptions, it feels like they all set out to make standard thrash. There’s nothing wrong with that of course, but it’s hard to recommend listening to this many thrash records from Italy, even if you’re as keen on the subgenre as I am. All the elements are here (even the enthusiasm), but unfortunately this album still feels a bit redundant.

Be sure to check out and like Blindeath on Facebook!

Highlights

"Moshing Maniax"

"Welcome To The Thrash Party"

Final Rating

3.5/5 or 70%. 

Written by Scott

Warstorm – Goatspel

Warstorm is another thrash band hailing from the subgenre’s apparent new capital, Italy. “Goatspel” is their first full-length album, and to my surprise, it is not being released through Punishment 18 Records; instead, the band opted to use Earthquake Terror Noise as a label. This album takes a bit of a different approach from some of the band’s Italian counterparts. With only 6 tracks, it is a short release, but it also features an epic in the 10-minute title track. Despite this difference, Warstorm doesn’t sound particularly different from any other thrash band out there right now. They seamlessly switch tempos as they add and then remove aggression at will. The opening song, “Checkmate For Mankind” has a section with clean guitars that builds into a melodic guitar solo. With that in mind, the band isn’t going warp speed at every second of the album. One would think that would help the band stand out a bit more, but when all is said and done, “Goatspel” doesn’t really leave a lasting impact. Even the title track sounds more like 9 minutes of straight thrashing (after a short intro) rather than something a bit more unique, though there is a bit of atmosphere at the end.

If you don’t mind relatively predictable songwriting, there is a lot to enjoy here. The vocals are the standard Italian style: a somewhat monotone thrash grunt, but with a stereotypical Italian accent. This sound is particularly effective, though it might be starting to wear a little bit thin. These singers don’t all necessarily sound the same though. This is evident on “Cursed”, which features an appearance from Hyades’ singer. The two vocalists manage to utilize some enjoyable interplay between their lines, and it is enough to make this one of the stronger cuts on the album. Additionally, there is no shortage of riffs on “Goatspel”, though they primarily hearken back to Exodus rather than the more aggressive death/thrash bands or the sloppy black/thrash groups. The bass playing and drumming are both competent, though neither particularly stands out. Both play an excellent supporting role, choosing not to go over the top with fills, and instead letting the guitars take the lead. When it comes to the production, things are, once again, as you would expect. This album features a good guitar tone, though nothing rivaling the best in metal. None of the instruments need to fight for attention, and they all sound decent at worst.  

As someone who has heard a lot (almost too much) Italian thrash, I can assure you that Warstorm are nowhere near the bottom of the barrel. There are quite a few bands I enjoy more, particularly because of their attention to creating memorable songs, but Warstorm still does an admirable job in bringing the riffs. If you are already familiar with Hyades, Game Over, and Omnivore, and want more, this band is sure to satisfy your cravings for thrash.

Be sure to check out and like Warstorm on Facebook!

Highlight

"Cursed"

Final Rating

3.5/5 or 70%. 

Written by Scott