Flotsam & Jetsam - Ugly Noise (Metal Blade, 2013)

Track Listing:

1. Ugly Noise (4.10)
2. Gitty Up (3.09)
3. Run And Hide (5.28)
4. Carry On (4.18)
5. Rabbits Foot (4.16)
6. Play Your Part (5.28)
7. Rage (3.24)
8. Cross The Sky (4.44)
9. Motherfuckery (3.07)
10. I Believe (2.53)
11. To Be Free (3.08)
12. Machine Gun (3.17)

Synopsis: I must confess, Flotsam & Jetsam took me by surprise with their previous release "The Cold" and it gave the impression that they had rediscovered their touch after a run of less than impressive releases. Having listened to "Ugly Noise" it would appear that this was not the case as their latest effort lacks the heaviness and aggression that made its predecessor so enjoyable. Instead Flotsam & Jetsam have reverted back to listless, uninspired groove metal and most of the songs lack any fire at all, even a song titled "Rage" is anything but vehement. It isn't like I was expecting a return to their thrash heyday, that wouldn't be at all realistic or necessary, but it is unfortunate that "Ugly Noise" is just what it purports to be and not in a good way!

Tankard - A Girl Called Cerveza (Nuclear Blast, 2012)

Track Listing:

1. Rapid Fire (A Tyrant's Elegy) (5.12)
2. A Girl Called Cerveza (4.14)
3. Witch-Hunt 2.0 (5.42)
4. Masters Of Farces (4.08)
5. The Metal Ladyboy (4.59)
6. Not One Day Dead (But Mad One Day) (4.01)
7. Son Of A Fridge (5.53)
8. Fandom At Random (5.27)
9. Metal Magnolia (5.07)
10. Running On Fumes (5.30)

Synopsis: Tankard have built a lengthy career, thirty years and counting, around their drunken thrash however their recent output has been inconsistent to say the least as previous albums were a bit hit or miss as far as the overall quality of the songs went. Maybe it's the jump to Nuclear Blast or the abundance of thrash competition but their latest album "A Girl Called Cerveza", whilst not straying from their inebriated formula, seems to rectify this problem to some degree. Some of the songs and humour still fall flat but a song like "Witch-Hunt 2.0" shows what Tankard are capable of when they get it right.

www.tankard.info

Dew-Scented - Icarus (Prosthetic, 2012)

Track Listing:

1. Hubris (1.28)
2. Sworn To Obey (3.54)
3. Thrown To The Lions (4.29)
4. Storm Within (4.06)
5. Gleaming Like Silver (3.50)
6. By My Own Hand (3.42)
7. The Fall Of Man (4.03)
8. Reawakening (4.35)
9. Destined To Collapse (4.40)
10. A Final Procession (4.42)
11. Perpetuated (3.16)

Synopsis: It could be argued that Dew-Scented have pretty much released the same album repeatedly such is the consistency of their sound and "Icarus" isn't likely to change that perception. Still, they have their own take on thrash that doesn't sound like anyone else in particular and, despite line-up changes, it is performed with the confidence of band that is experienced and clear on what they do. As someone who discovered the band on "Ill-Natured" and have followed them ever since I, personally, have no issue with their ongoing adherence to their chosen style, especially when it's as good as "Icarus".

www.dew-scented.net

Dust Bolt - Violent Demolition (Napalm, 2012)

Track Listing:

1. Opulence Contaminated (4.25)
2. Violent Abolition (3.31)
3. March Thru Pain (5.16)
4. Shattered By Reality (3.46)
5. Toxic Attack (5.01)
6. Into Madness (3.55)
7. Oblivion (5.36)
8. Pleasure On Illusion (4.38)
9. Deviance (5.32)

Synopsis: No-one has enjoyed the recent thrash revival more than I however it is getting more difficult to find bands that bring something new to the style. Case in point, Dust Bolt and their debut "Violent Demolition" which ticks all the boxes you would expect of a thrash release, from the artwork to their actual sound, but doesn't push beyond the standard formula we have all come to know. That said, there is nothing inherently wrong with what you hear and "Violent Demolition" is a thoroughly enjoyable release with some strong ideas so it remains a worthwhile investment where you will know exactly what you are getting from the outset.

www.facebook.com/dustbolt

Ketzer - Endzeit Metropolis (Necroshrine, 2012)

Track Listing:
1. Endzeit Metropolis (3.54)
2. A Requiem For Beauty (5.47)
3. The Fever's Tide (4.14)
4. Aesthetics And Ecstasy (4.48)
5. Farewell, Fade Away (1.57)
6. Collector Of Worlds (4.08)
7. Redeemed By Truth (4.07)
8. He, Who Stands Behind The Rows (9.03)

Synopsis: This is an excellent thrash album that manages to sound reminiscent of the classic German bands, you can no doubt guess who, but also adds a contemporary, darker edge to the music. Admittedly I haven't heard their debut but, for only their second album, Ketzer show themselves to be a band with a firm grasp on their sound and they play to their strengths at all times. "Endzeit Necropolis" is one of the better albums I have heard in this style, and is sure to spark nostalgia in some, and it will certainly appeal to those who love blackened thrash such as Desaster or Aura Noir.

http://www.ketzer-official.de/

Skirmish - Through The Abacinated Eyes (Violent Journey, 2011)

Track Listing:

1. Premonition (3.47)
2. Conquest (3.39)
3. Insurgency (5.43)
4. Mystery In A Blazing Dream (5.46)
5. Death Beyond (4.52)
6. Astral Infinity (5.13)
7. Indebted (5.48)
8. The Forlorn Masque (5.47)

Synopsis: Skirmish play an aggressive blend of thrash and death metal that, whilst not likely to change the world of metal, serves as an enjoyable forty minutes of primal auditory violence. It's certainly a very heavy album with a slightly rough production that actually works in its favour and the songs are well written, one minute they are raging by in a speed frenzy and the next there are strong, heavy riffs and grooves to latch onto. I actually bought this together with a couple of other Violent Journey releases, Fleshred and Witheria, and found all three to be of high quality so it is another label that I will be keeping an eye out for in the future.

www.facebook.com/SkirmishBand

Liar - Cheatin' Games (Steamhammer, 1991)

Track Listing:

1. Five Minutes To Go (6.25)

2. You Will Never (4.51)

3. Animals (4.58)

4. Love (3.27)

5. Standing On The Wrong Side (4.38)

6. Boys Don't Cry (5.56)

7. Liar (4.14)

8. Take Away (6.15)

9. Flamin' Youth (6.43)

10. B.4.R (5.53)

Synopsis: After one album on Century Media, Liar jumped ship and released their second album which comes across as a logical development from its predecessor. The production is better, resulting in the keyboards being more up front, and the songwriting has been somewhat improved but the underlying problem of inconsistency continues. Some of the songs are quite enjoyable whilst others don't fare as well and this could be a good reason why Liar never quite made it into the big leagues, they were not thrashy enough for the diehard thrasher nor were they polished enough for those who enjoyed traditional metal.

Liar - Nothing But The Truth (Century Media, 1989)

Track Listing:

1. D.C.W (6.31)

2. Dance On Fire (4.59)

3. Batman (4.58)

4. Lonely Boy (3.30)

5. See You Again (6.06)

6. War (No Solution) (4.14)

7. Run For Me (5.02)

8. It Hurts (4.28)

9. I Don't Care (5.09)

10. Hello My Friend (1.32)

Synopsis: Despite often being referred to as a thrash band Liar really weren't that heavy or aggressive and, while there are certainly thrashier riffs scattered here and there, their metal comes across as far more traditional fare due to their constant use of keyboards. As the cover would attest this isn't anything too serious and they do manage to include a Sex Pistols cover ("Lonely Boy") but it's probably best not to be mislead by the thrash references otherwise it is quite likely to disappoint despite having its moments.



Injury - Unleash The Violence (Punishment 18, 2011)

Track Listing:

1. Ignorance (3.16)

2. The Execution (3.31)

3. Busy Killing (4.34)

4. Violence Unleashed (4.07)

5. Messiah Of The Undone (4.45)

6. Food For Vultures (5.28)

7. Death Routine (3.56)

8. Fear Of Nothing (6.59)

9. Denying My Soul (4.01)

Synopsis: Injury are a thrash band that plays it straight, without any surprises, yet the end result on "Unleash The Violence" is actually quite good. Sounding like an amalgam of present day Exodus and Testament the riffing is heavy and suitably aggressive with a solid production that gives it weight and, from a superficial viewpoint, I just love the cover. This is certainly one of those albums that sounds great at full volume and takes a familiar formula yet still manages to make it enticing, something that can't be said about all thrash albums these days.

www.myspace.com/injuryviolence

Nekromantheon - Rise, Vulcan Spectre (Indie, 2012)

Track Listing:

1. Cast Down To The Void (4.05)

2. Blood Wisdom (2.44)

3. Embrace The Oracle (3.41)

4. Coven Of The Minotaur (3.53)

5. The Usurper Command (4.24)

6. Rise, Vulcan Spectre (3.47)

7. Twelve Depths Of Hades (3.39)

8. Raised By Dogs (4.26)

Synopsis: Nekromantheon are purveyors of primal, dark thrash metal, the kind that came out in the late eighties where it wasn't about finesse or skill but unbridled aggression. Opener "Cast Down To The Void" sounds like early Slayer and that sets the scene perfectly for what is to come. Add some old Kreator, Sadus, Sepultura or Dark Angel and it is easy to see where Nekromantheon plant their flag (of hate). It is always refreshing to listen to half an hour of old school thrash that is retrospective but hardly redundant and "Rise, Vulcan Spectre" is exactly that.

www.facebook.com/nekromantheonofficial

Kreator - Renewal (Noise, 1992)

Track Listing;

1. Winter Martyrium (5.43)

2. Renewal (4.35)

3. Reflection (6.15)

4. Brainseed (3.16)

5. Karmic Wheel (6.05)

6. Realitatskontrolle (1.22)

7. Zero To None (3.11)

8. Europe After The Rain (3.18)

9. Depression Unrest (5.05)

Synopsis: It was always going to be a challenge following up the magnificent "Coma Of Souls" but "Renewal" was hampered by Kreator experimenting with their sound and introducing industrial elements. Not that there was anything wrong with that if it worked but, unfortunately, the music seems restrained and lacking in vigour particularly when it comes to riffing or the vocals. Thankfully, Kreator have regained their spark on recent releases and, in some way, this attempt at change was probably needed but it is highly unlikely that "Renewal" would be considered in the same league as its predecessors.

http://www.kreator-terrorzone.de/

Vektor - Outer Isolation (Heavy Artillery, 2011)

Track Listing:

1. Cosmic Vortex (10.22)

2. Echoless Chamber (5.16)

3. Dying World (5.18)

4. Tetrastructural Minds (5.21)

5. Venus Project (6.47)

6. Dark Creations, Dark Creators (3.25)

7. Fast Paced Society (6.45)

8. Outer Isolation (8.27)

Synopsis: Vektor really impressed me with their debut album "Black Future" but it didn't really prepare me for what they have come up with on the follow up "Outer Isolation". Calling them a thrash band almost doesn't do them justice as it's only part of the equation and, if using that term, they are one of the more forward thinking thrash bands you are likely to come across. The musicianship is incredible, each track is memorable and there is no shortage of impressive moments that make it clear that there is hope for thrash in the hands of those willing to push boundaries.

www.facebook.com/VektorOfficial

Lost Century - Natural Process Of Progression (Independent, 1993)

Track Listing:

1. The End (1.49)

2. Submit To Stagnation (3.11)

3. Cling To The Unreal (4.42)

4. Delivering The Sentence (5.08)

5. Trivial (Towards Destination) (6.00)

Synopsis: Lost Century were an interesting technical thrash band from Germany and this was their first proper release after two demo tapes. I bought this CD without really knowing much about the band, information is pretty scarce, but it was worth the investment as the songs are well written thrash with a slightly technical edge. The band went on to release two albums, "Complex Microcosm" in 1994 and "Poetic Atmosphere Of Seasons" in 1995 before calling it a day.

Sadus - Chemical Exposure (Roadrunner,1991)

Track Listing:

1. Certain Death (4.14)

2. Undead (4.03)

3. Sadus Attack (1.44)

4. Torture (2.25)

5. And The You Die (1.46)

6. Hands Of Fate (3.56)

7. Twisted Face (2.00)

8. Fight Or Die (2.53)

9. Illusions (3.47)

10. Chemical Exposure (2.16)

Synopsis: Sadus inhabit that grey area between thrash and death metal and it is easy to see why on "Chemical Exposure" which was actually a re-issue of their debut "Illusions", originally released independently in 1988. Sadus were all about speed with a hint of chaos yet, at the same time, that's their biggest appeal and it is the outright aggression that places it somewhere between thrash and death. Each of their successive albums built upon this formula however, as they matured, they never quite matched the intensity of their debut.

Exmortus - Beyond The Fall Of Time (Heavy Artillery, 2011)

Track List:

1. Bane Forthcoming (1.08)

2. Kneel Before The Steel (6.11)

3. Black XIII (4.03)

4. Beyond The Nile... (2.33)

5. Entombed With The Pharaohs (6.20)

6. Destroy (5.24)

7. Crawling Chaos (5.36)

8. Left To Die In The Paradox Of Time (6.18)

9. Khronos (Forever In The Void) (3.04)

10. The Gathering (6.04)

Synopsis: I have been a staunch supporter of Exmortus ever since I purchased a copy of their debut "In Hatred's Flames" from them a few years ago. Of course, that was subsequently reissued with extra songs by Heavy Artillery the following year, which I bought as well, and now we have "Beyond The Fall Of Time". If anything, Exmortus seem to have gotten more aggressive and the rapid, shredding guitar work, that is almost their trademark, remains at the forefront. At times it borders on death metal though it never quite crosses over and there are even some more traditional metal moments as well. "Beyond The Fall Of Time" will go down as one of my favourite albums of the year and it readily proves that thrash can still sound fresh and relevant.

http://www.exmortus.com/ 

Oracle - As Darkness Reigns (Massacre Records, 1993)

Track Listing:

1. Prisoner (Of Your Own Soul) (8.11)

2. Nightmares (6.41)

3. No Faith for The Liar (9.01)

4. As Darkness Reigns (6.54)

5. Paradise (On The Edge Of The World) (4.35)

6. Knights Of The Round Table (7.10)

7. The Watcher (6.29)

8. Prodigy (8.28)

9. In The End (3.48)

Synopsis: This is the one and only album that Oracle released and, to be honest, I knew nothing about the band when I bought it. Fortunately it is quite a good release melding thrash and early ninties progressive metal, Massacre describe used the descriptors progressive power and melody which aren't too far off the mark. Based around a talented guitarist in Kent Smedley, who provides some solid riffs and impressive soloing, Oracle were also fortunate to have a strong vocalist in William Wren who possesses a decent range. Sure, it's not perfect, as you can see above the songs are generally quite lengthy, but this is still well worth investigating.

Immaculate - Atheist Crusade (Stormspell Records, 2010)

Track Listing:

1. Cross Of Nero (5.18)

2. Thrashark (4.47)

3. The Immaculate Dead (4.50)

4. Sanity's Eclipse / Steel Of The Missionary (8.39)

5. Atheist Crusade (8.42)

6. Thrash Metal Avenger (3.45)

7. The Apparition (5.48)

8. Gutterthrash (5.12)

Synopsis: There are obviously a lot of thrash bands out there these days, new and old, but Immaculate have certainly managed to develop their own identity. Their thrash is quite technical, at times it's almost frenzied, and the high pitched vocals might take some getting used to. It is clear that Immaculate have taken a different path to most and their decision to include a Fates Warning cover, "The Apparition", is also very telling. If you are familiar with Toxik then that's as good a comparison as any, "Atheist Crusade" is well worth a listen. 

Testament - The New Order (Atlantic, 1988)

Track Listing:

1. Eerie Inhabitants (5.06)
2. The New Order (4.25)
3. Trial By Fire (4.14)
4. Into The Pit (2.46)
5. Hypnosis (2.04)
6. Disciples Of The Watch (5.05)
7. The Preacher (3.37)
8. Nobody's Fault (3.57)
9. A Day Of Reckoning (4.00)
10. Musical Death (A Dirge) (4.05)

Synopsis: Together with Overkill I have always preferred Testament to any of the "big four" and one of the key reasons is "The New Order". Here, on their second album, the band refined a melodic flair to their thrash that was in it's infancy on "The Legacy" and it is, for me, their most consistent and powerful release containing such classics as "Trial By Fire", "Into The Pit" and "Disciples Of The Watch". As far as I am concerned Testament haven't released a bad album over their lengthy career, maybe inconsistent but never bad, and "The New Order" is where the balance was perfected allowing it to more than hold its own with the great albums released by the "big four" the same year.

http://www.testamentlegions.com/



Genetic Wisdom - The Fear Dimension (Mascot, 1993)



Track Listing:

1. Perserverance Kills The Game (5.42)
2. Why Don't You? (8.37)
3. Unfortunate Childhood (6.03)
4. Psycho Love (9.18)
5. Afraid Of Life (8.00)
6. Inside The Triangle (Of Death) (5.44)
7. The Fear Dimension (2.15)
8. Visual Fastfood (5.53)
9. Radical Hatred (7.48)

Synopsis: Genetic Wisdom were a young band trying their hand at progressive thrash metal with mixed results. The talent was clearly there but, unfortunately, some of the execution wasn't. This is compounded by the lengthy songs that sometimes run out of steam and a dated production lacking in power. You could argue that they were over ambitious on their first attempt, we'll put it down to youthful enthusiasm, but "The Fear Dimension" is not without merit and remains worth a listen, particularly to thrash completists.