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 K.O.D. (USA)
This is the band where the ex-Rigor Mortis singer Bruce Corbitt continued his career. Based on the "Slaughterhouse" demo, the style is good fast thrash/death metal, sounding like a further continuation of the Rigor Mortis debut, with the Corbitt vocals taking a harsher, more sinister tone. Apart from the short speedy assaults this demo also includes two much longer (8-9min) songs where you won't hear something more technical, it's just that the bashing goes for longer "decorated" with some stylish lead guitar work, and Corbitt takes a secondary role there, leaving more room for the others to perform.
Slaughterhouse Demo, 1989 K-0S (SPAIN)
Melodic thrash with some crossover tendencies; the music is feelgood, reaching for heavy/power metal at times ("De La Onu A La Otan"), or at times for jolly punk (S.K.A."), also including one cool semi-ballad (El Camino"). The album definitely has its more edgy moments: the short headbanger "Odio", the heavy up-tempo thrasher "La Semilla Del Diablo", but it would have a wider appeal than other full-fledged thrash metal works.
Kondenados Full-length, 1999 My Space KAARMENAITELLY (FINLAND)
Another fine example that there is something in the water in Finland: very cool retro thrash from the North sung in Finnish (a growing tendency with the bands out there) with both fast, technical songs and some heavier, slower ones.
Moraalin Vartijat Full-Length, 2005 KABAT (CZECH)
Melodic thrash with classic heavy metal parts; might sound too soft for the more radical thrash metal fan (based on the debut). Despite the presence of some up-tempo speed/thrashers ("Nechte Me Bejt", "Fuck 'N' Roll", and especially the intense Bay-Area-sque "Ma Ji Motorovou"), the music will not hold water for long for the thrash metal fan. The last song "Pasik" is a sudden turn to slow, funereal doom, and is quite effective, although the ending ruins it a bit, being some punk-ish joke. Later the band moved to hard rock.
Má Ji Motorovou Full-length, 1991 My Space KACHANA (UK)
This band remind me of Ghoul and Frightmare: thrash metal mixed with mid-period Carcass. These guys are less aggressive, and by all means more technical. The music is heavy with nice technical breaks, never speeds up a lot, and the bass work is simply brilliant at times (check out "Severed Skin"). "Byzantium" is the highlight of this cool debut featuring great twisted riffs and more intense sections ala Dark Tranquillity. The singer has a voice similar to Jeff Walker, maybe with a slight shade of Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquillity again).
Killing Inside Full-length, 2003 My Space KAIN (CROATIA)
Based on the "Everything Is Possible" EP: classic 80's thrash metal, reminiscent of Exodus and Vio-Lence. The band plays fast and intensely with cool melodic tunes thrown in. The closing song "Wargames" is slower, mid-paced and heavy (and too long as well: 7-min), and kind of underwhelming, betraying the cool headbanging pace of the rest.
Everything Is Possible EP, 1992 Fan Site KALAKAI (USA)
Typical melodic thrash/death metal, fast and edgy, with ultra-fast passages interrupted by sharp thrashy breaks. Nothing revolutionary, although the excellent closing acoustic instrumental "Solace" may make you cry.
A Slow Descent Into Oblivion Demo, 2006 My Space KALASCHNIKOV (GERMANY)
There is not much known about this obscure act, except the fact that two people are responsible for the music on the debut, which is pretty competent speed/thrash which surprisingly sounds close to the American standards (Sentinel Beast, Destructor, Blessed Death, Piledriver) topped by somewhat awkward deep clean declamatory vocals which never try to shout a bit higher which could have been beneficial. The album begins with "Devil's Yo Hero" which is vintage energetic American speed/thrash metal slightly ruined by the not very proficient leads. "The Haunted House" follows suit with plenty of sharp galloping riffs and a cool balladic intro, but the guys mess it up with the next "Rockin By The Grave Yard" which is a bland hard'n heavy rocker. "Kill Your Neighbor" improves things with more dynamic power/thrash guitars, but the real status quo is restored with "Chosen One", a really nice mixture of fast intesne and heavy stomping passages. The instrumental "Demons Rebellion" is a cool slab of lead-driven speed/thrash which is hardly the best decision as the lead guitarsit is not a really big asset. "Video Monsters" is pure fierce thrash, but there is a flaw again, this time caused by the singer who this time for some reason tries to rule the show adding gruffer harsher tones plus a few laughable high-pitched thin screams, the former not a complete waste, as a matter of fact, making him sound quite close to Gord Kirchin (Piledriver, Dogs with Jobs, Convict); this number actually strongly recalls the Piledriver's "Stay Ugly" closer "The Executioner", in a good way. More edgy speed/thrash with "Hell's Runnin' Wild" again sustained in the best tradition of the aforementioned "Stay Ugly", before the vocal version of "Demons Rebellion" wraps it up; a much better track than the instrumental with the leads removed completely now replaced by excellent high-speed riffage, and the singer surprisingly sounding more potent compared to his previous performance.
The Torture Never Stops Full-length, 1988 KALASHNIKOV (PORTUGAL)
Punk-ish thrash/crossover of the melodic jolly variety, with no big ties to thrash, except on a few more aggressive faster moments ("Peace is Dead").
Oh Yeah Motherfucker!!! Full-length, 2007 My Space KAMALA (BRAZIL)
Based on the demo, this young Brazilian band pull out intriguing modern thrash with occasional shades coming from the classic school. The style is somewhat technical with choppy riffs, mixed with more straight-forward ones resulting in really good intense, complex numbers: "Take Away", "Corrosive". One song is featured in two forms: "Tired", which is also a cool track, maybe more groovy and standard. The last one "Shame" is 1.5-min of frantic, but again fairly interesting thrashing.
Corrosive Demo, 2005 Official Site KAMARA (FINLAND)
A good mixture of classic and modern thrash with rough, death-ish and nice clean vocals, which at times come unpleasantly synthesized, and touches of the gothic/doom style adopted by their compatriots Amorphis on their more recent works. There is some Metallica-influence in the guitar work, coming from both their late 80's, and their Black Album period. This is heavy, mostly mid-paced stuff with cool crushing riffs and memorable melodic guitar lines, but is kind of one-dimensional, with very few attempts at a more varied, up-tempo play: "Hauras Mielil", and the closing moments of "Riisuttu", which come with furious blast-beats.
Ämäkin Vielä EP, 2004 Official Site KAMELEONTTI (FRANCE)
Based on the "Vähitellen Vaikenee" EP, this band plays modern post-thrash with a dark gothic sound. Seldom can one hear very fast death metal outbreaks, but the dominant pace is mid at best.
Luojan Kiitos EP, 2002 Official Site KAMPFBUND (FRANCE)
This band offers a decent mix between classic and modern thrash of the less hard-hitting type, with gruff death-ish vocals. The music is predominantly mid-paced, with the occasional faster burst ("Divinites Paiennes", the nice speedster "Tempete Nordique"). There is a certain gothic atmosphere going through the album ("Pandemonium" and elsewhere), and "Les Chacals" is jolly crossover.
Mythes Et Combats Pour L’europe Full-Length, 2008 KAN KLOYI (THAILAND)
This obscure Thai formation offers a mild, pleasant blend of classic heavy, power and a bit of thrash metal. The guys never speed up, but there are a couple of very heavy, pounding pieces, which owe a lot to the 80's American power/thrash metal scene. Unfortunately, the singer's clean tember inclines for a more balladic song-writing, and such are half of the tracks on this one.
Huqdib Full-Length, 1995 KAOS (USA)
Based on "Kaos Among Us", this band mix classic and modern thrash, with Pantera and Slayer being the main influences. The guys try to play fast and tight, but when they slow down, they come up with some intriguing heavy tracks ("Burning Scars", the semi-ballad "God As My Witness"), although their more aggressive side is also cool ("Live Forever", "Descend Into Madness"). As a result we have a moderately successful bridge between the old and the modern school.
Vision Beyond Full-length, 2000 Official Site KAOSLORD (ITALY)
6 tracks of modern industrialized, sometimes technical thrash, which strangely reminds me of Front Line Assembly's only flirtation with the genre "Millenium". The music is jumpy, and some riffs may catch your attention, but seldom leaves the mid-range, except for isolated sections from separate songs. "Ja-Wohl" livens up the situation with some brisk riffage, but the rest is pretty much the same: heavy, pounding guitars with industrial effects retouching the sharpness here and there.
Catch The Fear Full-length, 1993 KAOTHIC (SPAIN)
These Spaniards play stylish complex thrash/death, which is more on the modern side, but the interesting guitars and the intriguing decisions guarantee you not a dull moment. The album starts with the progressive meandering "Shpere", but there is more to come, with the more aggressive "Hypocritical", which thrashes with full force. "Strange Confusion" offers entertainment of the more elaborate, progressive type again, but is too "out there", without any dynamic moments. They come aplenty on the next "Seven Times Seven": an impressive speed/thrashing opus, with great Oriental hooks, and a few blasting moments thrown in. "A Raven In The Dark" breaks the alternation between slower, longer and faster, shorter songs, and is excellent technical thrash/death, quite a brutal piece, with great guitar performance. "Veif Of Shame" slows down, and is almost gothic/progressive, containing mostly quiet, lead-driven passages. And another more intesne technical number as a finishing touch: "Arrows Of Time", which even includes a short groovy passage, among the steel hectic technical riffage. There is an interesting "duel" between the two vocals styles presented: one is in the brutal death metal camp, the other is clean, with an avantgarde shade, quite cool, recalling the ones of Vintersorg. Spain is not famous for its technical metal scene (Unreal Overflows come to mind from the more recent acts, and, of course, the instrumental technical death masters Continuo Renacer), but these guys look well equipped to compete with the best on a worldwide scale.
Order to Chaos Full-length, 2005 Official Site KARBONIZED TRAITOR (FRANCE)
There is no information anywhere who is behind the music, but this is hardly important, as this is unimpressive noisy thrash/black with horrible synthesized vocals; at times the tempo is quite fast, but there are times when clear stoner/doom passages sneak through, as well as rock'n roll jokes: "When I Plug Your Sister's Holes". The overall sound is not far from the Japanese school in the genre: Barbatos above all, but also Abigail, etc.
Take it in the ass Full-length, 2006 KARMA (ARGENTINA)
This obscure Argentinian act pulls out a dry, sterile mix of thrash, death and a bit of hardcore. The guys try to give a fair share of each of those styles, but this blend is nothing exceptional staying mostly in the mid-paced sector, with a couple of moments where the riffs start jumping in all directions creating a chaotic feeling which doesn't quite live up to its technical pretensions. "Feel Your Truth (Betray The World)" is a surprisingly more complex exercise on modern thrash, quite long compared to the rest of the songs with clever heavy, almost doomy riffs, and brings a nice change from the otherwise monotonous picture. "Odio Song" and "Nuclear Epidemy" are also more than welcome near the end, with their raging guitars, and cool tempo changes. A bit of 90's Sepultura, a bit of early Meshuggah, a bit of Grope and Puncture have found room in this hectic, occasionally interesting, but not a really commendable release.
Fear Of Destiny Full-length, 1994 My Space KARMIAN (ITALY)
Above average modern thrash, not miles away from the first two The Haunted albums, but the singer here is a pure hardcore shouter, and both death metal and classic thrash sections can be caught, which makes the Italians' music more enjoyable, at least to these ears. The tempo is fast and energetic, producing genuine headbanging moments. The only drawback would perhaps be the closing "Lethal Weapon", which "flirts" with groove the whole time, and is hardly the most suitable exit from this otherwise enjoyable EP.
Karmian EP, 2007 My Space KARRAS (GERMANY)
Modern thrash/death with some moments recalling Slayer's late 80's period; the music stays closer to thrash, except on some furious sections where the blast-beats reign supreme for a while.
The Bright Side of Death Full-Length, 2007 KARRION (CANADA)
Based on the "Free In Death" 3-track demo, Karrion blend aggressive, Slayer-influenced thrash ("King's Exile") with slower, heavy riffs ("Free in Death") in the Celtic Frost-vein, plus a combination of the two ("Forsaken World").
Karrion Demo, 1986 KARTZER (BULGARIA)
This obscure Bulgarian band come up with a modern, angry brand of thrash, which shares some of the hardcore aesthetics of bands like Pro-Pain and Sick Of It All, but when they feel like it, thay can pull out good headbangers: "Let Me Die", "Bulgarian Reality" (this song could be a good starting point, from where you can begin learning something about the country, at least about its more recent history- kidding, of course). "Virtual Reality" tries to experiment with rap-styled vocals and off-beat melodies, but they simply sound ridiculous compared to the vicious, aggressive hardcore shouts of the singer.
Progress to Decay Full-Length, 2000 KASAKIT (PHILIPPINES)
Messy raw amateurish thrash/death, a not very pleasant surprise after the last couple of cool bands from the Philippines I came across in the past few months, with very bad brutal low-tuned vocals which obviously try to imitate Chris Barnes. The music is not worth mentioning, being rough direct bashing moving from very fast to very slow with abrasive distorted guitars.
Perpetual Pain EP, 2008 My Space KASATURA (TURKEY)
Two songs which show this young Turkish act preferring to stay closer to the classic school; both songs combine speedy riffs with heavy, mid-paced sections, accompanied by a dual vocal attack: one style is vicious black-ish rasp, the other gruff death metal one.
Cruel Killers Promo, 2007 KAT (POLAND)
A band who did a lot to establish metal on the music scene in Poland; the first two efforts are more in the power/heavy metal realm, recalling early ADX and Killers, but after that the band moved to thrash metal (the same year when another big Polish band: Turbo, did that) with "Oddech Wymarlych Swiatów": a fine fusion of power, speed and thrash, boasting really impressive speed/thrashing pieces: "Porwany Obledem", "Dziewczyna W Cierniowej Koron". The band hint at more complex things to come, with the excellent "Mag-Sex", which begins as a ballad, before it evolves into a smashing riff-fest. More mellow compositions are also around, keeping the band's past alive, including the cool ballad "Glos Z Ciemnosci".
Metal and Hell Full-length, 1985 Official Site KATAFALK (HOLLAND)
Katafalk play modern thrash/death metal, with some brutal blast-beat moments and shades of black metal. The tempo very seldom goes to mid-paced; this is quite fast and intense music.
Storm of the Horde Full-length, 2003 Official Site KATASTROPHY (USA)
Good classic 80's thrash, hard-hitting and energetic, close to Anthrax and Slayer, maybe a bit more adventurous, with both more technical and modern 90's elements trying to sneak through here and there, but these are the moments where the music loses edge, and sounds kind of chaotic. It's in the faster and more immediate parts where the guys really know what they do, and also on the heavy, slower, but effective, Infernal Majesty-influenced number "Third Anti-Christ".
Demo Demo, 1993 KATEDRA (LITHUANIA)
Based on "Natus In Articulo Mortis", this is a pleasant surprise: standout progressive thrash, which sounds wonderfully abstract and avantgarde in a way similar to Voivod's "Killing Technology", early Mekong Delta, and the other great progressive thrash metal act from the former Soviet Union: Valkyria. The music is graced by fabulous technical riffs, great leads, and superb surreal melodies. There are also more accessible sections where the guitars thrash more aggressively, creating a cool headbanging atmosphere. Even the gruff, Tom G. Warrior-like vocals fit the music quite well. Despite its complex nature, this masterpiece will grab you immediately, simply because you will get absorbed in the very engaging, but at the same time quite riffy music; by all means one of the Russian-related metal scene's finest hours.
Mors Ultima Ratio Full-length, 1989 Official Site KATHMAYAN (IRAN)
Well done progressive instrumental power/thrash, nicely alternating between intense riff-oriented sections and melodic lead guitar passages. The tempo is quite energetic, without crossing over the sound barrier, although the headbangers will find fine moments on "Auricle" to jump around. The guys are quite expert at mixing acoustic guitars with more aggressive riffage ("Degeneration", "Recalling"); another mixture worth mentioning is the progressive opus "Xenophobia", which constantly alternates quiet dreamy moments with faster more intense ones. "Fogyist" is a really fine exercise on meandering technical thrash, with a speed metal twist at the end. Another similar technical experience is "Hydra", which is slightly less dynamic and more jumpy. The closer "The Last Station" is a very cool instrumental ballad, which will make you cry (at least the more romantic souls), a quiet, but very appropriate ending for this fairly satisfying effort coming from one of the least likely places on the metal map.
Exir Full-Length, 2005 KAUTERION (SPAIN)
4 songs of black/thrash big on atmosphere and dramatism; fast raging moments get mixed with epic thrashy ones all graced by haunting melodies mostly created by the guitars, with a very sparce use of keyboards. The prototypical raven-like vocals are here, too, recalling Abbath Doom Occulta (Immortal), the Norwegians also being the closest soundalike.
Toward The Lights Of The End Demo, 2003 Official Site KAUTERY (ITALY)
This is raw, aggressive thrash metal with numerous proto-death moments, which will bring you back to the days when bands like Messiah and Protector were making a hell of a noise in the metal underground with their first works. The production is awful with bad synthesized, hysterical vocals put in the front during the mix. There are more interesting, almost technical moments ("Calling Inner Self"), but the rest is mostly intense bashing with not a very high level of musicianship present.
Living Crusher Demo, 2004 Official Site KAYSER (SWEDEN)
A cool new band from Sweden who play retro thrash with thicker, modern production. The band's influences are from the Bay Area scene, but one could catch shades of Slayer and even of some of the German thrash heroes. In other words, for fans of all walks of classic thrash this band would be a delight.
Kaiserhof Full-length, 2005 Official Site KAZJUROL (SWEDEN)
The full-length is a nice classic speed/thrash metal album. The guys play fast and intensely, like on the good opening "A Clockwork Out Of Order", which is not all-out speed, but comes with a heavy, doomy interlude in the middle. Actually, there are no many pure speedy tracks here: the merciless (no pun intended) "Merciless Insanity", the Slayer-esgue "Honesty The Right Excuse", the brutal hardcore-ish "Stagedive to Hell"; the longer compositions mix fast and slower moments all the time, resulting in a fairly interesting listen: check out the awesome, multi-layered "Echoes from the Past". Seldom can one hear something more complex ("Blind Illusions"). No fillers here, and as a bonus there is a cover version of Eric Clapton's "Cocaine", followed by the album closer "The Human Force": a heavy thrasher with a hardcore edge.
Dance Tarantella Full-length, 1990 KEEN ACT (USA)
One of the many roughly produced typical 80's thrash demos; the music is heavy, not very fast, with gruff vocals, recalling James Hetfield. The sound has a strong Bay-Area influence, but the bad sound quality is a big obstacle for one to appreciate this stuff. "Crematorium" is a nice track- aggressive and pounding at the same time, in the spirit of early Testament. "Sense of Destruction" is a cool closer, again picking more speed: a short, but enjoyable speed/thrasher.
Demo Demo, 1990
Kingdom of Dead Full-length, 1993
Živì! Live album, 1991
Dìvky Ty To Znaj Full-length, 1993
"Of Gods And Men" is less striking being pretty ordinary modern thrash metal, a much more melodic offering than the debut clinging towards gothic and the ballad, and despite several edgy headbanging sections thrown in this album will mostly satisfy fans of the more melodic side of the genre who will be particularly pleased with the very good emotional clean vocals. The ban members do further damage in two other acts: the melodic death/metal act Irony of Christ, and the more classically-inclined thrash metallers Craniosacral.
Of Gods And Men Full-length, 2009
"In Touch With Reality" has already embraced some of the modern tendencies ("Pride" "flirts" with the groovy sounds quite a bit), but the classic thrashiness hasn't disappeared completely, and what's on offer here is a more updated version of the Bay-Area sound still more retro-sounding than the early 90's efforts of the aforementioned acts. The speed, however, has been diminished to a certain extent, and now the pace is mid for most of the time touching the semi-ballad on the good edgy "Time for a Change".
In Touch With Reality EP, 1994
Kalakai EP, 2009
The follow-up has nothing to do with these two guys since neither of them had been listed as taking part in it. Still it mysteriously features as their second official full-length containing an inferior brand of heavy and power metal, again with an American flavour, the only improvement having been made in the vocal department where the new guy comes up with a deeper more melodic tember.
Desert Storm Full-length, 1990
The full-length is hardly an improvement, sacrificing the more original approach for more conventional modern thrash one, which frequently adheres to groove, and frantic shredding with an industrial edge ala Strapping Young Lad. This amalgam doesn't work all the time, awkwardly switching from clumsy groovy to very fast hectic fast passages. The industrial atmosphere is too strong for one to grasp fully this act as a thrash metal one; fans of the Canadians Soulstorm, late period Meshuggah, and even Godflesh would find something to like here.
Kamala Full-length, 2007
Synti, Tuomio, Katumus Full-length, 2005
Kaiken Jälkeen EP, 2003
Vähitellen Vaikenee EP, 2007
Sarkaimet EP, 2007
LeiKi Kuollutta Single, 2009
Tärkein Vähemmistö Full-length, 2009
Kaos Among Us Full-length, 2003
"Elevation Massacre" already sounds as a typical 90's aggro-effort, although the groovy "traps" are nicely avoided most of the time with more energetic almost classic-sounding riffs (the short explosive "Birth Killer Machine"; the dry mechanical, but energetic guitars on "Believe is Not Be Live"). "Scare Dreams" is a cool mix of groove and more dynamic riffage, even trying something semi-technical at some point ala early 90's Prong, but the other material doesn't stray too much from the established 90's laws, still offering songs which could be considered a better follow-up to "Chaos AD" even than Sepultura's own "Roots".
Elevation Massacre EP, 1996
Free In Death Demo, 1987
"Bastard" wastes no time, showing that the guys have grown musically, and the opening "W Bezkszta³tnej Bryle Uwiêzion" comes with a heavier, more technical sound. "Zawieszony Sznur" excels in the guitar department producing enchanting melodic hooks of the Oriental type; it even finds time for a speedy section near the end. When "Bastard" refuses to speed up, it becomes clear that there won't be much aggression involved here, and this is the reason why despite the high level of musicianship displayed all over, this album will leave fewer memories in the listener's head, than the rawer, but more immediate predecessor. But the guitar performance alone will make you go back to it more than just now and then, as well as the nice closing ballad "£za dla Cieniów Minionych", a tendency which the guys fully developed on the follow-up ("Ballady"), which consisted of 9 very good ballads (some of which are a bit overlong), including the aforementioned one from "Bastard".
However, the band quickly gave up their romantic inclinations, and "Ró¿e Mi³oœci Najlepiej Przyjmuj¹ Siê Na Grobach" saw them speeding up once again. Unfortunately the fast-paced thrashing opener "Odi Profanum Vulgus" will cheat you big time, since this album is not about heads-down thrash, and at least half of the songs are full-fledged ballads, with a more aggressive edge. There is a lot of groove involved as well, and although "Strze¿ Siê Plucia Pod Wiatr" lifts the spirit up with its brisk thrashy guitars, it can hardly dissipate the morose atmosphere created by the two lengthy semi-balladic compositions which surround it.
The previous effort left a solid aftertaste in the mouth, but "Szydercze Zwierciad³o" does very little to dissipate it. The guys feel content playing ordinary, uneventful modern power/thrash. It was good that the band took a break after this one, to do some rethinking, but this pause must have confused them even more, as "Mind Cannibals" is a direct follow-up to the last one containing another portion of blatant, unimpressive modern metal.
666 Full-length, 1986
Oddech Wymarlych Swiatów Full-length, 1987
Bastard Full-length, 1991
Ballady Full-length, 1993
B¹d? Wariatem Zagraj z Katem EP, 1996
Ró¿e Mi³oœci Najlepiej Przyjmuj¹ Siê Na Grobach Full-length, 1996
Szydercze Zwierciad³o Full-length, 1997
Mind Cannibals Full-length, 2005
Death’s Contradiction EP, 2006
"Mors Ultima Ratio" is a more melodic affair, with quite a few semi-balladic and atmospheric elements, a mix of power and thrash metal (more power metal-based, actually), and is a much more immediate listen, with the progressive tendencies only slightly hinted at. Still it's a worthy effort with, again, good melodic leads and fine speed metal numbers ("Smeklos").
"III" comes after a long 12-year break, and shows that the guys have apparently lost almost all interest in thrash metal; the sound is a mixture of more recent Fates Warning and modern progressive power metal, which packs a punch here and there ("Gele", "Kosmaro Vizija"), and the musicianship remains on a considerably high level, but most of the time it is just not a very impressive progressive metal album.
Natus In Articulo Mortis Full-length, 1992
III Full-length, 2006
Good Citizen EP, 2006
Frame The World...Hang On the Wall Full-length, 2006
Bodyslam EP, 1991
Toothcombing Reality's Surroundings EP, 1991