Copyright (c) 2007 THE THRASH METAL GUIDE
0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A.M.E.S. (GERMANY)
Based on the debut demo, this band pulls out heavy steam-roller modern thrash/death metal which never leaves the mid-pace, except for the violent closer "Cast Aise", topped by ultra-brutal growling vocals. There is also a certain playful vibe in the guitar approach reminiscent of the first 2 Six Feet Under albums.
Demise Demo, 2003 Official Site A.M.Q.A. (USA)
Punk-ish thrash/crossover, more on the melodic side; there are two bass players in the band, and this can be very clearly felt; there is a very heavy bass bottom on every track, and yet the music is catchy and melodic.
Cats are Neat EP, 1986 My Space A.N.I.M.A.L. (ARGENTINA)
Based on "El Nuevo Camino Del Hombre": groovy post-thrash, but lacking energy and speed, mostly mid-paced, often moving towards slower, balladic fields, one-dimensional and ultimately boring; there is one awful attempt at funk (or rap, or jazz?) at the end: "Chalito".
A.N.I.M.A.L. Full-length, 1993 My Space A.N.S. (USA)
"The Process of Stocking Out" is thrashcore mixed with punk and a few instrumental variations with a strong modern industrial vibe; not terribly bad, actuallly, even sounding original at times. "Pressure Cracks" is cool thrash/crossover in the spirit of Broken Bones and Ludichrist; fast energetic songs take turns with noisier more hardcore-based ones. The modern elements have gone, except for the nice spacey instrumental near the end "Instru-Monu-Mental" with touches of Mastodon, and now this effort sounds more classic, but quite derivative as well.
The Process of Stocking Out Full-Length, 2008 A.O.D. (FINLAND)
Based on the 2-song demo "Painful Awakening", this obscure band play cool heavy thrash sounding like early Testament. Both songs could well stay on "The New Order" with their crushing, semi-technical riffs and nice Alex Skolnick-like guitar work.
Demo 1988 Demo, 1988 My Space A.R.G. (FINLAND)
A really good Finnish thrash metal band who perfectly combine aggression and technicality; their debut is rawer, but very effective, quite intense and speedy with great riffs and ambitious long, complex tracks ("Heathenism in Penitentuary"). The overall style is similar to late 80's Kreator and Destruction. The sophomore album is pretty much in the same vein, but is more technical and polished with another monstrous, 12-min multi-layered thrash opus near the end: the title track "One World Without The End", and really impressive excercises at a more complex, technical song-writing: "Adoration of the Kings", the smashing speedy riff-fest "Misfortune Along My Side", or the crushing galloping "Back To Life". This uncompromising thrash assault still finds room for one brilliant fast-paced melodic crossover piece: "Hey Hey My My".
Entrance Full-Length, 1989 Official Site A BETTER HOPE FOUNDATION (USA)
Crusty thrashcore with dry dispassionate guitars despite the up-tempo experienced for most of the time. The guys lash on autopilot producing samey energetic stuff which seldom gets wildly hardcore-ish ("Colder Nights") to a startling, but positive, effect, but watch out for the closing "extravaganza", a slow composition ala Biohazard including spacey melodic passages with an alternative edge which are ultimately ruined by the very shouty hardcore vocals.
Trading Heroes For Ghosts Full-Length, 2008 A BURIAL AT SEA (NORWAY)
The EP offers modern thrash/death metal of the Gothenburg school, fast and intense with clever technical riffage ("Among Betrayers") present.
Pestilent Demo, 2007 My Space A CALL TO ARMS (USA)
This new act specializes in classic power/thrash which is pretty close to early Iced Earth, until ti hits the more aggressive parameters on the smashing "No New Revolution". Things only get more interesting, first on the short technical "Parasite Season", and then on another fast-paced number: "The God Within". "Upcoming Epidemic" is a nice more epic-tinged power/thrasher with heavy meaty riffs which suit the cool clean, mid-ranged vocals reminiscent of the 2nd Iced Earth singer John Greely.
Peace Through Strength, Victory Through Devastation Full-Length, 2011
A COLOUR COLD BLACK (GERMANY)
Based on the debut, this band plays a weird mixture of thrash (a little bit also coming with a pinch of hardcore), death and doom metal with a very annoying abrasive guitar sound. At its most melancholic the approach comes close to early Anathema, but the Germans speed up more often where they also recall their compatriots End of Green. Reportedly on their later works the band incorporated thrash metal elements more mixing them with industrial and groove.
Dead Dream Full-length, 1997 Official Site A LOWER DEEP (USA)
A cool mixture of thrash, progressive and doom metal with a heavy thick sound and a small doze of modern groove; will appeal to fans of Nevermore, Memento Mori, the last Hexenhaus album and even Iced Earth. "Parable of the Thorn" is the band's least thrashy effort; it's still quite good, with a bigger concentration on the progressive/power metal side of the music; the more intense thrashy sections (quite a few of them here) are modern-sounding, and not really engaging.
A Lower Deep Full-length, 2002 Official Site My Space A MURDER OF CROWS (AUSTRALIA)
Modern power/thrash metal with strong groovy qualities; nothing really special, except the very good ballad "A New Breath", and the spasmodic proto-deathy closer "Here Comes The Pain", a sudden very aggressive outbreak ruined by the shouty angry vocals.
The Twisted Path EP, 2010 My Space A PUNTO (ARGENTINA)
A modern blend of thrash and death metal with technical pretensions, coming mostly from the jumpy hectic riffage, which springs up from time to time. The tempos change quite a few times, as the predominant one is the mid-paced. There are a couple of short 1/1.5-min tracks which are awkward, as they are more aggressive and less serious, and do nothing more but ruin the rest which offers pounding heavy rhythms as well as several groovy ones.
Popular Poder Full-length, 1996 My Space A THOUSAND REASONS (ARGENTINA)
A 3-song demo of heavy abrasive thrash with very brutal low-tuned vocals; this is dark, almost doomy, music with a sudden faster revelation at the end: the hardcore-ish industrial oddity "Synthetic Heaven" which suddenly switches to darkwave on the final line also introducing nice clean vocals.
Strength and Fight Demo, 2009 A TU PUTA KARA (SPAIN)
Modern thrash hesitating between heavy groovy and faster crossover parts; the alternation is almost song-by-song as both sides deliver helped by the relative length of the songs (4-5min), with sections where both tendencies entwine to produce the most interesting tunes ("La Última", "A Fuerza Ostias", both placed at the end) topped by less impressive semi-death/semi-shouty vocals.
Movido por el Odio Full-length, 2007 Official Site A VISION GROTESQUE (USA)
This band, previously known as Art of Dying, a moniker they had to drop due to legal claims made by a Canadian act of the same name, play modern thrash/death metal of the Swedish school (based on "Metaphysical Hypnosis"); nothing extraordinary, pretty typical stuff, melodic and laid-back, with the rough low-tuned vocals the only brutal thing, reminiscent of mid-period In Flames and the Finns Gandalf. The guitar work is not bad at all, but the guys develop it all in a tedious mid-tempo with only the closer "Whisper the Serpent" thrashing hard with force.
King of the Massacre Full-length, 2007 My Space AAMONHAMMER (BRAZIL)
Brutal black/thrash metal, not too dissimilar from others from the Brazilian metal scene at the same time: Vulcano, Sextrash, Sarcofago, etc. with a pinch of early Sodom and Hellhammer.
Funeral Demo, 1987 AARDVARKS (GERMANY)
Based on "Conglomerate", this band offer an interesting blend of thrash and gothic/death metal which brings a thrashy Crematory to mind. The songs are heavy, slow to mid-tempo. Before you, thrash metal maniacs, give up tracking this band down, I would like to add that there are nice fast thrashers, too: "Grey" is a good example for that. The band's interesting mixture will appeal to gothic, death and thrash metal fans.
Profondo Rosso, EP, 1999 Official Site My Space ABACABB (USA)
Heavy groovy thrash, not too bad, with hammering Pantera-sque ("Far Beyond Driven") riffs and sudden very fast "interludes" ("Regression"), which are cool and fresh, boldly jumping on the death metal wagon ("Regression") to an even more impressive effect. Some tracks ("Destruction", etc.) are frankly proto-grinding, but surprisingly this unusual amalgam produces listenable results, without sounding awkward.
Survivalist Full-length, 2009 Official Site ABACINATE (HOLLAND)
Classy aggressive thrash similar to Sepultura's "Beneath the Remains" and Devastation's "Idolatry"; too bad these guys disappeared soon after that. These are actually the same musicians who were behind another great underground act: Brain Implosion. This is very fast-paced intense music, with no single pause for a break, which never goes over the line into death metal territory, providing 7 tracks of pure headbanging thrash.
Out of the System, Demo, 1991 ABACINATE (USA)
These guys pull out a very wild mix of thrash, death metal and hardcore; the guitar work is fabulous, quite technical and varied, shaking hands with the best in the field: Suffocation, Morbid Angel, Decapitated, etc, although the band here are not strangers to straight thrashy sections. The grinding passages are quite a few, but are very appropriately used, creating a very nice contrast to the less intense material, nicely adding up to the great dynamics of the album. Even the short, 1.5-2min numbers are packed with superb guitars and sudden tempo changes (check out the mighty riff-fest "Sadist Misogynist"). Another act this band might remind you of, is Carcass, their mid-period (check out the awesome "The Nuremberg Code"). More conventional, Swedish-styled riffs are also added ("She Gave Up the Ghost") here and there, but they stand no chance against the impeccable technical riffage.
Portrayal Of The Gray Man EP, 2006 Official Site ABACINATOR (USA)
"Abacinator" is heavy thrash, alternating between fast, Slayer-esque sections and slower ones, recalling Nasty Savage's debut, with mean, declamatory vocals which sound quite cool, actually. "Domestic Violence" abandons the slower parts, and is all-out speed most of the time, with again Slayer being the obvious influence, as well as Evildead's "Annihilation of Civilization" and Sacred Reich's "Ignorance"; the drums sound a bit hollow on this one, and there is a song there: "Acting Like Black Sabbath", which acquires doomy tendencies similar to the Brits' early stage with Ozzy, and is clearly intended as a joke.
Abacinator Demo, 1987 My Space ABADDON (CZECH)
A young act who tries to broaden the margins of the thrash/death metal hybrid by adding clever arrangements of the semi-progressive type which results in a loss of speed and kind of repetitive structures evolving in mid-pace with frequent more intriguing technical stops, which are also kind of samey sounding like a clumsier unrehearsed Coroner. The sound hesitates between the classic and the modern trends, but the melodic hooks ala later-period Death are a nice touch on the pounding proto-mechanical background the latter assisted by a strong bass-bottom. The singer is a low-tuned death metal growler of the more intelligible kind, and will remind you of the ex-Torr singer Vlasta Henych quite a bit.
Armageddon Full-length, 2008 Official Site ABANDON HOPE (GERMANY)
Another band who play modern groovy thrash apparently influenced by Pantera and Machine Head, this time spiced up with stoner/doom elements, as well as more interesting, semi-progressive guitar work. When the guys pull themselves together, they can come up with hard-hitting, headbanging riffs ("Lost But Not Forgotten"). They also offer a cover version of Jethro Tull's "Locomotive Breath".
The Endless Ride Full-length, 2006 Official Site ABADDEN (UK)
The full-length reveals "defenders of the old school faith", the main difference coming from the throaty death metal-ish vocals. The main influences come from the American side (the Bay-Area, Slayer, early Whiplash), and rest assured that there is no speed lost here the guys moshing out with fury with sharp lashing riffs the whole time. "The Hand That Feeds" is a cool attempt at more elaborate performance ala late-80's Metallica, followed closely by the last two numbers: "Into The Dark" which scores high in the lead department, and the more mid-paced closer "The Day Of Reckoning" where the guys leave room for cool melodic hooks toning down the speed as a finishing touch.
My Misery EP, 2007 My Space ABANDONED (GERMANY)
These guys like the word "thrash", and it's not hard to guess where they would go with album titles like that: classic 80's thrash is the order of the day, for which responsible are some of the more renowned musicians from the German metal scene: Fabian "Fabs" Schwarz, the guitar player who in the past played for both Storwitch and Tyran Pace, and of more recent times is involved in Paradox and Runamok, among other acts; the bass player Günter Auschrat who also provides the heavy bottom in Out of Order; and the drummer Jan Mischon who is also a member of the talented outfit Courageous. Surprisingly, Abandoned don't follow on the steps of their compatriots, but have looked for inspiration on the other side of the Atlantic ocean, and have come up with a good more Bay-Area thrash-influenced debut, with a pinch of Paradox's speed/thrash, which to these ears bears the most "delicious fruit" ("Holy Terror", "Phoenix Rise"). The drums sound hollow and noisy, though, and the singer doesn't quite fit with his throaty semi-shouty tember. Still, the tempo is up and vivid the whole time, and the guys throw in a couple of nice catchy choruses along the way.
Thrash Notes, Full-length, 2006 Official Site My Space ABANDONED SPHINX (SWEDEN)
3 songs (2 actually, since one is just a balladic intro) of dark mid-tempo thrash of which "Moment of Advantage" is a cool creepy semi-technical number, partly "killed" by the doomy pace and the brutal death metal vocals.
Former Life EP, 1993 ABATHOR (POLAND)
Based on the "Reincarnation" demo, this band plays noisy buzzy thrash metal with chainsaws instead of guitars... kidding, of course, but seriously, the sound is so buzzy that one may have problems distinguishing one motif from another due to the very noisy environment. Otherwise, this is intense fast thrash/proto-death metal with a few interesting balladic sections ("Down") where the music starts making sense for a bit. The guys had also had another project at around the same time: Citizen Dick, with a style closer to hardcore.
Reincarnation Demo, 1991 ABATHUR (ITALY)
Based on the single, this band offer brutal black/thrash with a very dirty, fuzzy guitar sound. The 1st song "Blood World Flesh Winter" is almost pure vicious black metal, whereas the other one "Last Man's Last Way" is cool black-ish thrash along the lines of mid-period Bathory ("Blood, Fire, Death") in a good galloping tempo with a very nice acoustic outro.
Grim Fuckin Folktales Demo, 2001 Official Site ABATTOIR (USA)
This band is more famous as the band from where John Cyriis started his career (although he doesn't sing on any of the two albums), and also another member of Agent Steel: the guitarist Juan Garcia. The style is a good mixture of speed, thrash and power metal, with the preferences going for the second album which is heavier, with a more aggressive sound. "Vicious Attack" is almost a full-fledged speed/power metal affair, which keeps a respectable up-tempo throughout (the opener "Screams from the Grave", "The Enemy"), featuring a cool version of, but of course, Motorhead's "Ace of Spades", as well as less sharp heavy/power metal numbers. "The Only Safe Place" is not a very distant departure, but the sound is heavier and not as speed metal-based, close to early Exciter and the songs, albeit longer, are more memorable and catchy.
Vicious Attack, Full-length, 1985 My Space ABATTORY (SINGAPORE)
The guys responsible for this EP are also those playing in another Singaporean act: Impiety. The music here is more controlled, without going into the extremes so typical for Impiety. There is still a lot of aggression involved ("Voices From The Graves"), and the tracks move at lightning speed at times ("Marching Of The Dead"), with the obligatory slower atmospheric interludes. "Elements Of Chaos" stands out, with the nice more technical guitar work, and the hammering middle section.
Anthems Of Death EP, 2001 Official Site ABAXIAL (ARGENTINA)
A blend of 80's Metallica and modern 90's thrash; works quite well. The guitars have a nice technical edge, and the tempo varies from nice galloping energetic thrashers ("Self-Respect") to heavy slower ones ("206 Bones"). "Carnivore" is a cool choppy, more complex number. The singer has a slightly uneven hoarse, semi-clean voice, which at its best sounds like unrehearsed James Hetfield.
Neo-Drama EP, 1992 Fan Site ABGATOR (GERMANY)
This is good stuff: excellent classic thrash along the lines of Viking's "Man of Straw", but faster-paced, and more aggressive ("Wings of Change" picks up a death metal-like intensity). The guitar peformance is particularly good, boasting great leads and hard-hitting riffs.
God's Sign Under Suffering Souls Demo, 2004
Postmortem Rites Full-length, 2007
Mutant Cats From Hell Full-length, 1988
Fin De Un Mundo Enfermo Full-length, 1994
El Nuevo Camino Del Hombre Full-length, 1996
Poder Latino Full-length, 1998
Usa Toda Tu Fuerza Full-length, 1999
Animal 6 Full-length, 2001
Combativo Full-length, 2004
Pressure Cracks Full-Length, 2009
The band's full-length is finally a fact, and "Gallery of Pain" doesn't disappoint offering well-executed retro thrash, but with a drier, more clinical production and more hoarse semi-shouty vocals. The pace gets high from the get-go with the first two songs being major headbangers, followed by the more moderate "Children of Misfortune" which influences the next mid-pacer "Guilty Or Not", before the rage returns with the short Slayer-sque fury "Cross the Line (Of No Return)". The guys switch onto pure proto-death/hardcore on "Suicide…Are You Fucking Insane?", but this is the only part where things get slightly out of control, but in a good way.
Painful Awakening EP, 1989
AnnODomini Best of/Compilation, 2001
Gallery of Pain Full-length, 2010
Back To Life EP, 1990
One World Without The End Full-Length, 1991
You Can Never Go Home Again EP, 2010
Like a Blessing EP, 2009
Drowning Sun EP, 1998
Sau-Krass Full-length, 1998
Adrenaline Agony Full-length, 2000
Rockitallover Full-length, 2001
Pull it up Full-length, 2004
"Trinity" is a better offering, starting with a cool heavy power/thrashing number ("Ascent Of The Fallen"), which sets the tone for the rest. The tracks are longer, and are not sustained in a hard-hitting thrashing vein the whole time, but include slower, doomy sections, as well as more melodic ones. Certainly there are more laid-back, power metal-based songs ("Gods And Monsters"), as well as pure doom metal delights (the excellent, Candlemass-influenced "Lost in Eden"), plus a few exercises in modern groove (the closing "The Power Of Why"), but generally the guitar sound is sharper and more aggressive.
"Black Marys" continues the harder course from the last recording, and the brutal death shout at the beginning of the opener "Bleed" may scare you, but this number is the prototypical for the band mix of doom and power/thrash surrounded by a dark ominous atmosphere, which sets the tone for what follows: mid-paced to slow crushingly heavy stuff, clinging between the modern and the classic sound, with the doom metal opus "Hamartia" being the highlight, with the more dynamic technical power/thrasher "The Narrow Way" a close second. "For Those Left Behind" is the other place where your head will start banging, and where more extreme lower-tuned vocals can again be heard; the closing "Revelation" offers a nice fast twist in the middle, but as a whole this effort focuses on heaviness, now moving closer to Communic sound-wise.
Parable of the Thorn Full-length, 2004
Trinity Full-length, 2005
Black Marys Full-Length, 2007
Waking Up to Hell EP, 2007
Metaphysical Hypnosis Full-length, 2009
Warfare Noise II Split, 1988
The demo continues the ambitious, and never overdone, mix with a very good sound quality and crispy biting guitars. Again "Crematory meets thrash" would be a fitting description, and all hats will be down for the excellent cover of Bolt Thrower's immortal "For Victory", here named "Pro Victoria", a great dark read of this great song with the steam-roller riffs and the brilliant doomy intro and outro, of course, preserved, the singer pulling outstanding performance worthy of Karl Willets himself.
Conglomerate, Full-length, 2002
Pro Victoria Demo, 2008
Ruination Full-length, 2008
Domestic Violence Demo, 1988
Sentenced to Death Full-length, 2010
"Thrash You!" concentrates on speed/thrash metal ala Paradox, now sounding not far from that same band's "Collision Course". So some may find this album the better offering, since the speed has been increased considerably, and the guys thrash sure-handedly, adding the odd more technical or more melodic hook here and there. The approach gets quite hard, going beyond the Paradox shadow for a while: the bombastic crossover-tinged "Feel The Fire", and speed killers like "Damned For All Time", "In Search of Sanity" and "Trapped" are not too far behind. Two "reliefs" from the hign intensity can be encountered: the short 1.5-min lead instrumental "Repentance", and the short attempt at a calm acoustic ballad "V.O.D. Reprise" at the end. The melodic choruses are not that frequent this time, and the hoarse singing again remains the major flaw.
Thrash You, Full-length, 2007
The unreleased album would bea pleasant surprise boasting a much better sound quality, and besides that a heavy potent delivery of the classic variety sitting somewhere between the Bay-Area (think mid-period Testament) and Flotsam & Jetsam's "Quatro". The effort develops in a doomy crushing manner, until it reaches "Names Of Sin": a fast blitzkrieg number with nice technical tendencies. "Phoenix From The Flames" later on is a cool nod to doom metal, but all of you will be wide awake on the next "Infamy", which is a short furious thrasher, ably supported by the two bonus tracks following suit both fast raging speedsters with a worse sound quality, apparently left-overs from the band's older material. The guitar sound is really boosted, and the guys play with confidence adding more claver arrangements here and there. the only drawback would be the rough death-y singer coming as a lower-pitched version of Kirk Windstein (Crowbar).
Promo Demo, 1993
Phoenix from the Flames Unreleased LP, 1996
Philosophic Nothingness Split, 2002
Blood | World | Flesh | Winter Single, 2002
The Only Safe Place, Full-length, 1986
The "Neo-Drama" EP is firmly in the classic thrash metal mould serving a powerful thick crunchy sound quite close to Xentrix and Metallica's mid/late-80's period. The compositions are long trying to sound moderately technical, and succeed although there is not much speed present the guys acquitting themselves with a solid mid-pace ("La Larga Travesia De La Evolución" has a nice speedy part in the 2nd half) with very good leads which are not far from the ones of Kirk Hammett himself (check the ones on "La Larga Travesia De La Evolución": an absolute feast for the ears with their brilliant melodies).
Samsara, Full-length, 1994