Copyright (c) 2007-2024 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 C.A.Q.L.L.E.D. (USA)
These folks deliver choppy angry post-thrash with atmospheric core-ish undercurrents. This is stuff combining the rebel-like
style of Biohazard with the aggro-patterns of early Machine Head and Pantera, only that here one can come across more faster-paced,
albeit short, sections. The gruff semi-clean singer is often accompanied by the others creating numerous chorus-like situations.
Demo.nio Demo, 2012 C.B MURDOC (SWEDEN)
This is a side-project for the members of the black metal purveyors Mork Gryning. The music on display has absolutely nothing to do with the one of the father band, though, being jumpy modern post-thrash with intriguing melodic undercurrents. A lot of futuristic mechanical dirge roams around at times more playful ("Patch"), at others a bit more than plain industrial noise ("Changeling"). "Ador" is a nice surreal progressiver, the highlight here, and "Two In One" is an aggressive sterile shredder its brutal aesthetics cancelled by the more moderate technical histrionics on the excellent "Trinkets Of Deceit". "D.A.D." is a frolic piece with a dynamic rhythm-section and an atmospheric, operatic "colouring". The closing "By Omission" switches onto technical/progressive death metal and is another winner with its serpentine riff-patterns and quirky melodic hooks. The only drawback would be the very shouty, to the point of hysteria, quarrelsome vocals which ruin the more proficient environment created by the music.
The Green Full-length, 2012 Official Site C.F.I. (USA)
Very good demo which crosses the aggressive thrash of Slayer and Dark Angel with heavier, pounding riffs in the vein of Nasty
Savage and Anvil; very good vocals, too, similar to Jimmy Hamilton from Intruder.
Demo Demo, 1988 C.I.A. (USA)
Having gained enough experience from the thrash/crossover arena with Nuclear Assault, a guy called Glenn Evans has decided to
form his own band. The style remains thrash/crossover, but is more melodic and less guitar-driven. Dan Lilker and Anthony Bramante
from his old band guest on "In The Red". The title-track is a cool, albeit not an exceptional debut, simply because along with the
hard-hitting thrashing numbers (the rowdy "Extinction", the impetuous galloping title-track), there's a certain amount of pointless, heavy metal-based ones (the clumsy semi-balladic "Natas", the friendly funky "N.A.S.A."), and this contrasting mixture doesn't seem to work very well all the time. Evans provides a cool semi-clean mid-ranged timbre which he replaces with a nice emotional cleaner one for the very cool lyrical ballad "Samantha" at the end.
In the Red Full-length, 1990 C.M.C. (USA)
Based on the 1990 demo, this band play decent classic thrash/crossover which can be both heavy and pounding ("Room for Change") and rowdier and moshing ("Portrait of a Dying Man"), the hoarse semi-declamatory vocals definitely on the more attached side, the calmer semi-balladic "Would I Lie" nicely upgraded with a dramatic fast-paced epitaph, before the short hardcore-ish "Brainwashed" wraps it on i a jocund frivolous fashion.
Demo Demo, 1988 C.O.T.L.O.D. (FRANCE)
The metal connoisseurs will immediately recognize the Testament song from "The Legacy" reading the band name, and indeed, this
track is the "godfather" of these French. So shall we have ripping technically-charged Bay-Area thrash here? Not really, as the guys follow strictly the rules of the thrash/death metal hybrid written by their compatriots Loudblast and Massacra a few years earlier. Heavy and ultra-fast sections come intertwined here topped by extreme low-tuned death metal vocals ala John Tardy (Obituary); the music delivers, though, and is well more than just senseless bashing even finding time for a more atmospheric keyboard-driven, Nocturnus-like, passage on "Present World". The band later changed their name to Astral Rising, and slowed down quite a bit to produce two full-lengths in the mid-90's of cool atmospheric doom/death.
C.O.T.L.O.D. Demo, 1991 C.R.U.C.I.F.I.X.S. (ARGENTINA)
This is intense, quite brutal at times, thrash/death which still contains enough melody to be categorized as "Gothenburg"-styled stuff, but raging hyper-blasting parts are also inserted the latter smelling black metal quite a bit. Some twisted technicality can be encountered on "Libera tu Mal" which boasts a haunting Oriental motif, among other niceties; an outstanding track, but just one-of-its-kind. Actually, there are other clever arrangements to be felt on this album, but the addiction to speed is too big for them to develop fully.
Apocaliptesis Full-Length, 2008 C-187 (HOLLAND)
When former members of the greatest technical death metal acts get together (in this case: Atheist, Cynic, and Pestilence), what possibly could you expect? A stellar technical death metal album. Well, but this isn't exactly what this album stands for; the guys have decided to shift from the expected path and have created certainly technical music, but it might not satisfy their die-hard fans; so what we have here is groovy technical post-thrash with no shades of death metal whatsoever sounding like a more technical version of Pantera and Machine Head. There are plenty of cool heavy, pounding riffs as well as interesting twists and turns, and if this album had been released by other musicians, it could have had a bigger appeal. Now it still sounds good and fairly interesting, but we all know that these guys are capable of much more.
Collision Full-Length, 2007 Official
Site C-300 (RUSSIA)
Modern thrash metal with a dry computerized sound and several reminders of the classic school; the music is professionally done
with sharp riffs and very good lead guitar work. The tempos change, mostly staying within the mid-parametres. The compositions are
lengthy, some of them going over 11-min, but there is not much complexity involved, the guy thrash straight, to the point, with
quite a few melodic leanings as well the latter recalling the Swedish scene more than just occasionally.
Nakazanie Angela Full-Length, 2010
C-T PREVAIL (NORWAY)
Modern thrash which combines the groovy side of the modern sound with more intense sections; the short aggressive tracks
("Listen") really lift up the mood, but they are not too many, and the rest is pretty derivative and predictable accompanied by
awful shouty vocals.
She Said CT Didn't Give Her Anything EP, 2003 Official Site CAARCRINOLAS (FRANCE)
This obscure trio offers 4 tracks of minimalistic thrash/death metal with very low-tuned, barely audible, vocals. Expectedly,
touches of the early Misanthrope avantgardism can be felt, but the overall feel goes more towards the The Gathering debut with a
good sense of thrashy technicality ("Milted") thrown in, plus captivating melodic tunes (the diverse "saga" "Mucus") all over. The
tempo is mid for most of the time with stretches towards doom and progressive. The guitar work is good and stylish, but the untimely band's end left the several good ideas unfinished, echoes of this demo later felt on acts like Septic Flesh, Bal-Sagoth, Nightfall, etc.
The Egg Demo, 1994 CAB RIDE HOME (USA)
2 songs of intense retro thrash in a consistent mid-pace with heavy crushing guitars and apocalyptic forceful semi-declamatory
vocals. This is good stuff which even manages to sound playful with the couple of more melodic hooks thrown in, and the overall
approach may remind you of Cerebral Fix, creating a similar monolithic wall of crushing sound without many unnecessary digressions.
The Intoxicated Massacre EP, 2009 My Site CABAL (USA)
Mr. Killjoy (Necrophagia) continued his career after his main band's split-up with two projects- this one, and Killjoy. Although using almost the same musicians on both albums, this one is by far the better featuring brutal forceful death/thrash not too far from the Swedes Merciless' debut, or Gammacide's "Victims Of Sciense". The guys bash without mercy the whole time, even on the 8-min closer "Nocturnal Reign" (a great slab of intense semi-technical thrash/death with a top-notch balladic lead-driven middle break), the aggression sometimes reaching impossible heights ("God Complex"). Only "Past Sins" tries to escape the categorization, by sounding slower and more technical. Killjoy is all over the place, with his capable brutal John Tardy-like scary shouts. Perhaps this effort will remain his finest "creation".
Midian Full-length, 1990 My Site CABEZA DE MARTILLO (PANAMA)
This band is actually one of the first metal bands in Panama, having started as a Metallica cover act in the mid-80's. Based on
"Cronicas del Dolor", the Metallica influences have been put far behind, and what we have here is modern thrash with a certain
hardcore touch, mostly heavy and mid-paced, but would have its appeal to the more classically-inclined fans with energetic old
school thrashers like "Adentro" and "Sexpiritual", and occasionally tasteful guitar work.
Invasion Full-length, 1996 Official Site CABRA (ARGENTINA)
Modern thrash metal with touches of hardcore of the mid-tempo variety, boring and uneventful, with angry shouted vocals and
repetitive tedious riffs.
Actitud EP, 2009 Official Site CABRA NEGRA (COLOMBIA)
Based on the full-length, this act plays a diverse mix of thrash, black and gothic metal which has both its fast brutal and
slower lyrical side. Both sides are crossed well as the band never overdo it in either department although to these ears the
approach is closer to black metal of the more atmospheric melodic variety (think more recent Cradle of Filth, Vreid), even adhering to pure speed metal on the encompassing closer "Martial Brass".
Cabra Negra EP, 2008 My Space CABRERO (ARGENTINA)
Based on “El Arbol De Las Voces Muertas”, this band play cool melodious retro speed/thrash which ranges from more immediate rippers (“Sin Grises”) to heavier more thought-out compositions (“A Los que Vendran”), the melodic lyrical ballad “Aunque no Estes Aqui” tonign down the impetuosity, but giving the good passionate clean singer more chances to shine. The second exercise in quiet idyll (“Rehenes del Rencor”) is already unnecessary, but the title-track at the end compensates for those slip-ups with an array of rowdy bellicose rhythms. Some of the musicians are also occupied with then progressive power metallers Centurio, the thrash metal outfit Territorio, and the black/gothic hybriders Carnarium.
Cabrero EP, 2016 CABRIO (CHILE)
This band play stomping epic old school thrash which freqiently comes alive with spasms of less restrained speedy shenanigans ("Arzamas"). More complex progressive offerings ("Seed of Deception") are equally as effective, and although a few overlong balladic sections ("Man Made God") on some of them spoil the fun a bit, but still there will be few pulled back by this sincere slab of classic metal, created by veterans who have done service in tried-and-tested acts like Necrosis and Kingdom of Hate, and are currently also involved with the death metallers Sikario.
Devotion and Hate Full-length, 2018 Official Site CACERIA (ARGENTINA)
This young Argentinian band offers modern groovy post-thrash which isn't too bad, especially when it speeds up (the opening "Una Razon"), but this should happen more regularly for the future since quite often does the music lack an edge smelling even nu-metal on the less inspired sections ("Alrededor").
Cortagargantas Full-Length, 2007 CACERIA (CHILE)
Based on the full-length, this Chilean trio play modern thrashcore mixed with more classic thrash/crossover expletives ("Total Aniquilacion"); "Infiernillo" is a more complex proposition with nice melodic turnarounds, and "Al Bar" is a frolic punk-ish shorter. The singer is a hoarse semi-shouty hardcore presence, trying to sing more passionately on the few mellower moments.
Caceria EP, 2019 Official Site CACERIA (PARAGUAY)
Another Caceria, this time from Paraguay, come splashing on the scene producing energetic headbanging retro thrash metal
expressed in short (2-3min) bullet-like tracks, in other words: "Ataque Frontal Del Metal", like the title of one of the songs
suggests. A relatively calm moment is the pounding mid-pacer "Conciencia Suicida", but before you manage to adjust to the seemingly peaceful delivery, comes a smashing furious section to break your neck. "Satanic Metal Warrior" is uncompromising old school speed/thrash metal at its finest the only weak point on this vigorous effort being the amateurish impotent semi-shouty vocals.
... El Primer Grito De Guerra Full-Length, 2009 CACOPHONY (USA)
The guitar heroes Marty Friedman and Jason Becker are in full swing with this act. It may be farfetched to call their debut a
"speed metal symphony" since the very fast (think early Helloween, or Solitaire and Cranium from the more recent past) moments are
not that many. "Savage" is a cool galloping power/thrash opener with the guitar wizardry overshadowing the characteristic gruff
semi-clean vocals which are an acquired taste and could annoy some. The real speed attack starts with "Where My Fortune Lies": a
hard-hitting number with vicious riffs and blitzkrieg swirling leads. "The Ninja" isn't as fast and is mostly a vehicle for the two guitarists to "duel" without too much interference from the others. "Concerto" will remind you of the early exploits of Friedman on the Hawaii albums (remember "Overture Volcanica" and "Rhapsody In Black") and is a truly fine piece of classical-influenced speed metal shred. A heavier, more thrashy number follows: "Desert Island" with the singer taking over and the two guitar boys taking a rest except for the head-spinning break which is kind of a warm-up for the last "symphony": "Speed Metal Symphony", another instrumental with a constant "duel" between the main characters lasting for nearly 10-min.
Speed Metal Symphony Full-length, 1987 CADAVER (SPAIN)
A 3-songer of dynamic direct thrash which evolves around simplistic stripped-down riffs and thin barely heard shouty vocals. The intrigue is a bit bigger on the more stylish Bay-Areasque shredder "Angel Caido" at the end, but the awful sound quality takes away quite a bit of the pleasure.
Here Be Dragons Full-length, 2016
"Attitude" is more consistent, with no big jumps from one style to another but the guitar work is less edgy, compared to the
more aggressive side of the debut. This is again strictly old school stuff (save for the proto-groovy jumper "Suicide") as nearly all the songs have a biting thrashy, or at least semi-thrashing vibe (the uplifting roller-coaster "CIA", the short lashing "Insecurity"), but the tempo stays within the mid-range (the heavy pounding title-track, the more experimental funky "Time"), accelerating on the last two songs ("No Shame", "Flattery") which are cool little thrashers accentuated by really good, near-virtuoso guitar work.
Attitude Full-length, 1992
Demo Demo, 1990
Metalweekend Split, 2003
Mean Season Full-length, 2008
The debut is quite close sound-wise to its predecessor, maybe scoring a bit higher in the lead department, but there is nothing
faster going on, except for the more intense thrashcore piece "Coito", and the dynamic mid-paced crusher "Que Vas A Hacer".
"Dreamer" is a cool semi-ballad with a nice chorus and stylish acoustic guitars; watch out for the aggressive thrashy ending as
well.
Cronicas del Dolor Full-length, 2000
"I.N.T.I" is a wild black/thrash affair black metal again leading the pack assuredly with plenty of infectious melodic hooks provided at every opportunity. "Torment of Blasphemous Fire" is a marvellous operatic thrasher with raging riffs taking turns with breath-taking atmospheric passages. The dynamic elsewhere is also quite big the band never settling for a samey rhythm for more than a few seconds the leads playing an important role as well: check the ones on the title-track, a virtuoso performance at its most inspired Shrapnel-like best. "Inquisitors of Truth" is another diverse headbanger, and "Gerreros de Sangre y Metal" symphonic black metal at its finest not to mention the fast-paced melo-death section near the end. "Goat Lust" is the obligatory officious quasi-doomster with echoes of mid-period Bathory, another worthy anthem on this fairly entertaining opus which would please a wide gamut of fans.
Ultimate Sacrifice Full-length, 2009
I.N.T.I Full-Length, 2016
Inquebrantable Full-length, 2017
El Arbol De Las Voces Muertas Full-Length, 2023
Sobrevivientes al Caos EP, 2019
Contraimperio Full-length, 2022
"Go Off!" starts promisingly with the 10-ton hammer "X-Ray Eyes", a really cool heavy technical thrasher recalling quite a bit
the style of another guitar virtuoso's act: Tony Fredianelli's "Apocrypha" with the singer trying really hard to play a more
prominent role in the proceedings with a more dramatic and melodic approach, and may cause quite a few laughs along the way. "ESP" follows the same formula, and so far the listener may not really miss the speed from the previous work, here replaced by a heavier, thrashier sound. The lead guitar mastery on both songs flashes in the middle, but both are mostly riff-driven affairs. "Stranger" pulls the album down considerably being a bland boring hard'n heavy filler with even the guitar work doing very little to save it. The immediate "excuse" comes in the form of "Go Off": classical shred instrumental, followed by the overlong, slower epic "Black Cat" with the guitarists in fine form. They raise their swords... sorry, guitars, high on the excellent aggressive speed/thrashing fest "Sword Of The Warrior" graced by the finest guitar performance on the album. The guys need a break again after such an intense show and here comes the good semi-ballad "Floating World" where finally the singer does some decent job with his clean tone. "Images" is a balladic instrumental, but is a really compelling listen with superb guitars all over with some of the finest leads of the 80's involved here. As a whole this effort isn't so much about speed, but the first one wasn't about that too much, either (except for the title perhaps), and could be considered the better achievement showing the two masters having found the right way to co-exist without any frictions.
Alas, the band was no more soon after with Becker releasing his very good solo album "Perpetual Burn" a few months later which
remained his only release for quite a while: he was diagnosed with the very rare ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), which is still a big
obstacle for him to play, and even walk and speak, although with the help of other musicians he was able to release three more
albums including 2008's "Collection" which is indeed a collection of his best moments from his solo work and the work with
Cacophony and David Lee Roth.
Marty Friedman also released his first solo album the same year, titled "Dragon's Kiss", and soon after joined Megadeth and his
outstanding performance sonsiderably pushed that band's ascension to stardom in the 90's. He continued releasing solo affairs
throughout the 90's and the new millennium concentrating more on Japanese rock, rather than metal, and also guested on Tourniquet's excellent "Where Moth and Rust Destroy".
Go Off! Full-length, 1988