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 N.A.O.P. (HOLLAND)
These stalwarts on the Dutch thrash/crossover scene do a good job on their debut with intense thrashy crossover which is both fast and catchy, at times
nice speed/thrash even touching Angel Dust's "Into the Dark Past" ("Face To The Wall"), at others lashing in a sincere hardcore fashion ("Destroy Power",
"White Trash"), and "Death Judgement" is a pure vicious thrash/proto-death bomb closely followed by the smashing D.R.I.-esque closer "Prisoner of Wealth".
The singer is a cool addition with his thick semi-death metal voice who spits the lyrics matching the intensity of the riffs coming close at times to the
joking meanish delivery of Pete Lee (Lawnmower Deth).
Noisy Act Of Protest Full-length, 1991 Official Site N.M.E. (USA)
Based on the debut, this is raw, simplistic thrash (or black) along the lines of Venom; music-wise the merits are very few, but it has definitely had an
impact on the future black metal scene. "Machine of War" is a very distant departure from the debut's sound, sticking to painfully familiar, even for that time, modern groovy formulas spiced by very angry shouty vocals. The guitars are suitably heavy, doing the best on the heaviest, doom-charged, numbers ("Acid Reign"). Short speedsters ("Dead Years: The Politics Of Paranoia") also roam around, as well as a few inept covers: two of Black Sabbath ("Children of the Grave" & "Electric Funeral", the latter better done with a genuine doom vibe; the former turned into awful hardcore with messy guitars); a short variation of Slayer's "South of Heaven" lasting for a bit more than 1-min; AC/DC's "Let There be Light" is also here as a finishing touch, played in a carefree crossover manner the singer shouting even more unpleasantly on this one.
Unholy Death Full-length, 1986 My Space N.Y.C. MAYHEM (USA)
Based on the "Mayhemic Destruction" demo: these guys pull out raw, aggressive thrash, which occasionally catches the ear, but most of the time this is
brutal bashing, with the drums, guitars, bass and vocals representing one thick wall of not very intelligible sound. Despite its raw nature it's clear that
the band were trying to push the boundaries of the genre towards more extreme fields, the way acts like Messiah, Possessed, Death, etc. did later, but in a
much better way.
Mayhemic Destruction Demo, 1985 N.E.U.K. (UK)
Very typical for the time groovy post-thrash in boring mid-pace and semi-shouty hardcore vocals. Some faster moments may remind you of Flotsam & Jetsam's
"Quatro" ("Propaganda"), but the rest is pretty boring even by 90's standards, descending to some form of groovy doom on the last 3 songs.
State of Mind Full-length, 1995 NACHZEHRER (USA)
A 4-song demo of fast epic black metal ala early Burzum spiced with thrash; rending raven-like vocals tear the air supported by numerous blasting passages
and a few haunting slower melodic ones.
Black Thrash Ritual Demo, 2010 My Space NADIMAC (SERBIA)
Cool aggressive thrash ala early Sadus and Rigor Mortis; the music is fast and intense, with very few pauses along the way, characterized by simplistic,
straight riffage and very good bass support. "Drzavni Neprijatelj Broj Kec" is built around the songs from the EP, with the new material offering the same
relentless approach, fast merciless stuff "shooting" a bullet after bullet ("Headshot U Glavu", "Sam Sebi"), seldom missing the target, boldly venturing
into proto-death waters ("Dlake Na Sapunu", where more stylish semi-technical riffs can also be heard) whenever needed. "Zmajeva Jajca" is a nice number
mixing the all-out speedy approach with more melodic hooks recalling the Finns Solitaire, including a playful crossover mid-break. The closing "Bog Cuva
Bekriju" is again more in the speed/thrash metal camp, with a couple of more melodic tunes thrown in. For sheer speed this act scores very high, sounding
at the same time fresh and varied, and even acts like the Japanese Fastkill and the aforementioned Solitaire could find something to learn from this really
nice nod to the old school. The singer Danilo "Daca" Trbojevic also provides the vocals for the technical death metallers Daggerspawn.
Metal Je Rat EP, 2009 My Space NAGNOENIE (RUSSIA)
Thrash/crossover of the retro variety with gruff semi-death metal vocals which surprisingly give the music a nice boost; the guys mosh in a more direct
thrash manner at times those songs being more mid-paced and heavier, but enjoyable nonetheless. The happiness reaches its climax on the Oriental piece from
Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction" in the middle, here turned into a vortex of jolly thrash/crossover rhythms, the highlight of the album also featuring
vocals. This unpretentious mixture of faster and slower numbers is really appealing, by the way, with a couple of doomy hooks added as well, plus the odd
short melodic lead.
Bezumie 13 Full-Length, 2001 NAIL WITHIN (ISRAEL)
Good modern thrash/death metal with a strong nod to the Swedish school, and more particularly to the founders of the whole movement: the mighty At the
Gates. The guys offer quite an amalgam of moods and styles: there is straight-out death metal, there is thrash, even with a shade of the 80's, there is
also groove involved ala Pantera and Machine Head. A contribution to the album's appeal make stars from the thrash/death metal constellation: Tomas
Lindberg himself, Mille Petrozza, another German throat: Robert Gonnella (Assassin), and Ze'ev Tananboim from their compatriots Salem.
Nail Within Full-length, 2003 My Space NAILBOMB (BRAZIL)
This band was formed by Max Cavalera, after he left Sepultura; he joined efforts here with the Fudge Tunnel member Alex Newport. Together they have done a
good job, with the style of their project coming as a combination of the two bands: this is industrial thrash, which is more up-tempo (but nor really
fast), and less noisy than the works of Fudge Tunnel, and more dynamic, and much better than the last Sepultura album with Max ("Roots"). The guitars crush
admirably, and Cavalera does a very god job behind the mike, without betraying his traditional singing style. Perfectly conformed with the tastes of the
day, "Point Blank" was a valuable addition to the growing industrial metal scene, and could be well placed among the best that year, along with Skrew's
"Dusted" and Prong"s "Cleansing".
Point Blank Full-length, 1994 My Space NAILED (CROATIA)
Modern groovy thrash metal ala Pantera.
Mankind Demo, 2002 Official Site NAILGUNNER (FINLAND)
The vocals would definitely be a pull-back to some: these unholy snarls are almost contrasting to the music which is otherwise competent semi-technical
thrash quite close to another Finnish band of recent years, Lethargy. Nailgunner's songs are shorter and more direct, but the overall effect is firmly on
the positive side.
All Life Ends Demo, 2004 Official Site NAISSANT DISASTER (GREECE)
Whether this small entry was made in 1986, will remain unknown, but the very clear production and the updated proto-modern edge of the guitars kind of betray its contemporary origin. The guys acquit themselves with sharp moshing rhythms keeping a respectable pace throughout only slowing down for a few galloping riffs on "Good Corpse" at the end, which exits the demo with furious blasting sections the latter finally matching the brutal death metal singer.
1986 Demo, 2009 My Space NAKOT (SERBIA)
Two songs of speedy retro thrash/crossover topped by gruff semi-death metal vocals; the approach is close to Spazztic Blurr and Attitude Adjustment, in other words we have fast abrasive bashing staying more in the hardcore camp.
Dažd/Nakot Split, 2008 NAMELESS (PORTUGAL)
The album title could easily win the "most tasteless album title" award. So apart from "Portuguese Bastards", what else do we have here? There are
similarities to Kreator (especially in the vocal department), but Nameless' music is more laid back and less aggressive. It contains a certain crossover
element ("The Reasons Of Life", "Feel Like Shit"), as well as timid attempts at a more serious song-writing ("When The Maniac Comes Near"), but most of the
time this is just an average, run-of-the-mill thrash metal effort despite its numerous classic leanings.
The Overcome of the Portuguese Bastards Full-length, 1996 My Space NAMELESS CRIME (ITALY)
American power metal with a certain thrash-flavour is what these Italian guys offer here. The music is actually quite satisfying, reminding of 80's heroes
like Heretic, Meliah Rage, Laaz Rockit and Metal Church.
Nameless Crime Full-length, 2003 My Space NANAHARA SHUYA (CHINA)
This is very chaotic stuff comprising thrash, doom, and a bit of death metal which ranges from brutal blasting moments to depressive Khold-esque ones this mess "supported" by ultra-hysterical shrieky vocals. Curious atmospheric speedsters roam around ("Night of the Castronauts") sounding like the mutant child of Impaled Nazarene and Rigor Mortis, as well as appropriately used haunting keyboards ("Battles") the latter recalling the Danish avantgardists Korova. But this is not all since later on one will encounter hypnotic monotonous doom ala Godflesh, the happy crossover interlude "Necro Loco", and the weird, but captivating, spacey instrumental "Winternova" at the end, an ambitious take on the surreal progressive style of the Australians Alchemist with another portion of stylish keyboard insertions. This is not bad, actually, although too scattered all over the place, and with a bit of refinement here and there, may turn into a convincing take on the extreme metal hybrid in the future.
Imperial Grand Strategy Full-length, 2006 My Space NAPALM (USA)
The band started in a fashion similar to their colleagues Anihilated with energetic, hardcore-ish thrash which was quite a winner despite the lack of many
musical merits; the album offered cool deviations from the energetic delivery: the slower, atmospheric 8-min "Act of Betrayal", the mid-paced stomping
thrasher "Combat Zone", and the nice galloping piece "Gag of Steel", but the shorter, aggressive explosive pieces, like "A.O.A." and "Attack on America"
are truly the more attractive side of the band's music. "Devastation", despite its brutal title, is the most melodic song introducing softer power metal
riffs. "Zero To Black" puts most of the hardcore elements away, and is overall more melodic and less impressive, exiting the thrash metal field on quite a
few times.
Napalm EP, 1986 Vibrations of Doom NARCOTIC GREED (JAPAN)
Based on "Twicet Of Fate", this is good semi-technical thrash, touching Equinox and Voivod on the most inspired moments. The vocals are melodic, and at
times the higher notes might annoy you. The album begins with the energetic thrasher "Don't Trust Anybody" which also puts forward more stylish decisions;
"Shotgun Highway" increases the intensity and speed, and consequently fails to develop further the technical tendencies suggested on the opener, but is a
satisfying short headbanger. "Deleted Illusion" thrashes intensely as well, but the guitar sound takes a more interesting edge. "Thug City" is quite an
unpleasant surprise, sliding down to hard'n heavy waters, topped by the worst vocal performance on the album: dragging, uninspired number, bad even if
intended as a filler. Fortunately, the following songs return to the more dynamic formula, this time coming with a more technical approach, resulting in
the album's finest time (Damn' Em All", "Humanchain"). The closer "End Is Near" is another direct up-tempo thrasher.
Fatal Full-length, 1994 NASFERATU (USA)
Aggressive, occasionally brutal thrash/death metal similar to the French acts Mercyless and Agressor; there is quite a variety at display here: heavy,
slower sections, very fast intense ones, mid-paced ones, you name it. The vocals are also all over the place, stretching from very low-tuned death metal
growls to unholy snarls. "Fortress of Solitude" is a very cool thrasher with nice technical hooks, which could sit proud even on Sadus' "Visions of
Misery".
Plague of Doom Demo, 1991 NASHVILLE SUICIDE MISSION (USA)
Groovy post-thrash, quite heavy, but also one-dimensional, with shades of industrial and alternative; the very angry semi-death metal vocals are often crossed with much better clean ones, but the music is too rough for them to be made the dominant ones. There is one aggressive modern thrasher in the middle: "God Damn You All", but the rest is jumpy and mid-tempo at best.
The Silver Lining Full-Length, 2004 NASICRYST
This is pretty decent retro thrash which lashes fiery sharp riffs topped by expressive semi-death metal vocals, often adhering to galloping paces, plus one aggressive death metal-fixated number: "Bloody Tile", which is a ripping headbanger thrashing hard for over 5-min recalling Evildead and Devastation.
Reflections Of Hatred Demo, 1994 NASTY SAVAGE (USA)
A distinguished representative of the American metal scene; their debut is power metal of the heavy variety with timid nods to thrash, a promising debut
with a sinister, dark sound. The heaviness of the debut was translated onto "Indulgence", which was a full-out thrash affair with great riffs and a
crushing, steam-roller like delivery; genuine technical hooks cold be heard sparingly, suggesting at something bigger to come soon. "Abstract Reality" is a
nice transitional effort, offering 4 songs of technically-minded heavy thrash with clever guitar sections and truly impressive lead performance: a fine
bridge between the more direct approach of "Indulgence" and the future one. "Penetration Point" is a first-class technical thrash album, which could only
be compared to the Coroner output; the intensity and the smashing heavy riffage have been lost partially, and some vortex-like sections may make the
listener get lost for a while; still the band haven't forgotten about their more straight-forward past, and some tracks are all-out thrashers, this time
with faster, more dynamic sections. Despite the high quality of the material offered on this one, a certain feeling remained that the band were capable of
more. But they went underground after that, and stayed there until 2004; "Psycho Psycho" might be a disappointment to some, who expected a continuation of
the technical thrash from "Penetration Point" since there are very few shades of less ordinary performance here: the sound is closer to "Indulgence" than
any other older work of the band with its more conventional, smashing, in-your-face sound, but is by far one of the better comebacks attempted by old
veterans of the past few years.
Nasty Savage Full-length, 1985 Official Site NASTY TRAST (USA)
A late comer on the American power/thrash metal scene which try to keep the classic spirit of the scene alive for another while wtih their anthemic, but also pretty sharp, power/thrash metal approach akin to early Metal Church and Meliah Rage. The calmer mid-paced tone on the first 2 songs is rudely interrupted by the fierce galloper "Misery", which is full of cutting riffs and screaming leads on top of the semi-clean, at times suitably screamy in the vein of Nasty Ronnie (see the review above), vocals. "Anti-Christ" is a volcanic razor-sharp mid-pacer, but "Hell Ride" tones it down a bit with more moderate power/speed metal hooks. "Talking for the Dead" brings back the heavy thunderous guitar sound, and "Death by Violence" is vintage galloping power/thrash at its classic best. "Show No Mercy" is not a Slayer cover, but is another energetic power/thrasher, which can not possibly stand on the way of the speedy closer "Losing Control", which thrashes with the best out there to a great headbanging effect. It was really nostalgic, and kind of inspiring probably, to hear such albums in the mid-90's, but hardly were too many of the fans at the time interested in hearing this fairly good attempt at bringing the good old thrash back to life.
Psychoanalysis Full-length 1994 NATAS (USA)
Brutal amateurish thrash metal with elements of proto-death and a considerable doze of hardcore; the band later changed their name to Not Us, and the style
as well, moving more towards thrash/crossover.
Demo/Rehearsal Demo, 1985 NATASTOR (VENEZUELA)
Excellent old school thrash with touches of death (mostly in the vocal department) metal and gehuine technical moments, recalling early Sadus (minus the
brutal debut), and fine solo work. The album is quite atmospheric with orchestral song-structures and a certain use of keyboards. Elements from the Swedish
death metal scene can also be heard, along with a great bass-bottom. The music never gets too aggressive, but straddles between up and mid-tempo. Great
technical numbers ala later period Death are the highlight of the album: the atmospheric, but sharp "Flying in the Cloudy Sky", and the most aggressive
song "Mental Inquisition" which is graced by fine Oriental guitars and speedy tempos. The closer is the only more death metal-based track, again recalling
Death.
1992-1996 Best of/Compilation, 2004 Official Site NATHENOTHING (SPAIN)
The demo: intense thrash mixing classic with modern riffs, with a heavy pounding sound and a shade of groove. The 2-song EP: some vocals have shown up to
scare the listener since they are one of the most agonizing sounds one may encounter on the circuit nowadays. The music hasn't changed remaining pounding
black/thrash metal now recalling Khold.
Demo Demo, 2008 My Space NATHRATH (GERMANY)
Instrumental black/thrash, rich on atmosphere, which to these ears sounds like a more accessible Burzum, mixed with less agressive Immortal. In other
words, this is 70% black and 30% thrash, mid-paced, with doomy elements, and two majestic intro and outro.
Demotion Demo, 2007 Official Site NATIONAL NAPALM SYNDICATE (FINLAND)
A cult thrash metal band, and for a good reason; their self-titled debut is one of the better thrash metal albums to come out of Finland. The music is
often on the technical side, drawing comparisons to Living Death's "World Neurosis" (including in the vocal department, having in mind the newly acquired
singing style from Torsten Bergmann on that album) on the most inspired moments. "Deathwish" is a more straight-forward opener, energetic and intense,
slightly hinting at something more technical. "Silent Violence" thrashes with no mercy, but the guitar decisions have already become a bit more intriguing.
"Lucy" is longer, and apart from the heavy, mid-paced more technical parts, more aggressive thrashing still can be heard. "The Sunrise" is a nice little
speed metal piece, followed by the aggressive thrash killer "Where Fears Reign". "Ante Mortem" comes with a more technical guitar approach, which doesn't
get lost on the rest, and even increases, on the excellent "The Final Gathering": a fine combination of fast, aggressive and technical riffage. The guys
probably needed one more offering of the same quality to reach even the mighty Stone, but they disappeared mysteriously.
National Napalm Syndicate Full-length, 1989 Official Site NATIONAL SUICIDE (ITALY)
Good retro thrash, recalling late 80's Overkill and the Bay-Area sound, feeling equally comfortable thrashing their souls out ("This Is A Raid"), staying
in the mid-paced parametres ("Sucks n' Artillery"), or mixing both in quite an impressive way ("National Suicide"). The singer carries on in the best
tradition of Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth (Overkill) and Steve "Zetro" Souza (Exodus).
The Old Family is Still Alive Demo, 2007 My Space NATIVE INSTINCT (BELGIUM)
Based on "First Born", this band pulls out cool thrash metal obviously influenced by Slayer's late 80's period (both musically and vocally), but in order
to increase the heaviness they also add doomy riffs ala Saint Vitus or Pentagram, resulting in a very crushing sound. Apart from the heavy guitars one
would easily find enough sharp, faster riffs for headbanging here, too. And, "Metal Heart" is not an Accept cover. Some of the musicians played in Yosh in the early/mid-90's, releasing 3 full-length albums with them.
Native Instinct Full-length, 2000 Official Site NATTAS (SWEDEN)
Based on "Inde Deus Abest", these guys, two of whom are also members of the melodic death/thrashers Bibleblack, play pretty similar stuff here as well,
maybe a bit slower and more varied, but following the Gothenburg model fairly closely. The "idyll" is broken in the middle by the harder (and "darker")
"Darkest Hours", a really fine intense thrasher, but the rest loses the speed quite a bit settling for a moody gothic-tinged delivery to which the gruff
death metal singer kind of doesn't suit very well.
Salvation EP, 2003 Official Site NAUTIA (GREECE)
This band are one of the stalwarts on the Greek thrash/hardcore scene, and as such offer a blend of the two styles with a more melodic edge (based on the
split), as the songs mix more energetic with slower riffs, as the preference is towards the speedy side of the music. If you can imagine a mixture between
early Prong and D.R.I. ...
Europaiki Anagennisi Full-Length, 1991 NAVAJDENIE (RUSSIA)
Decent power/thrash with mellow, melodic guitars; the guys shred with competence assisted by slightly thin, but convincing melodic vocals. "Groza" is a happy speed metal hymn, and the other material is just a bit more aggressive, except for the 2 tender ballads "Polukrovka" and "Sneg i Pepel".
Polukrovka Demo, 2011 NDE (USA)
Based on "End of Trust", this band offers ordinary unimaginative groovy post-thrash. There's little energy or dynamics involved; only for groove
completists.
Falling Full-length, 1996 Official Site NEBUKADNEZZA (UK)
The debut: this trio pulls out aggressive fast-paced thrash with not very good shouty hardcore vocals; the music is really intense, with numerous death
metal "decorations" (blast-beats, etc.). "There Is No Revolution" offers more variety, still thrashing hard on at least half of the tracks, but there are a
couple of slower songs, and the proto-death blast-beating passages are here, too, this time shorter and not as annoying. Although the guys offer nothing
new, few would be those who would sit still while listening to unbridled aggressive bombs, like "Redefined Justice", "What A Shame" or "When Dirty Hands
Touch Clean Food", representing the thrash/hardcore/grindcore hybrid in its most pristine, but also listenable form. All these tracks are placed near the
end, with the closing "Infotainment" being the "cream" at the top, blasting in an utmost furious fashion. Apparently at some point the guys got pissed off,
playing this longer milder material, and have gone out with all the machineguns blazing... definitely not for the squeamish.
New Age Of Politics Full-length, 1993
In Time EP, 1997
Full Contact Full-length, 1999
Hard To Deny Full-length, 2003
Machine of War Full-length, 1995
Vermination Full-length, 2002
Second Demo Demo, 1985
The EP is another hyper-affair praising Burzum again, above all, this time calming things down with the odd slower section ("Barsarkar-gang"), where some thrash can be heard. That same thrash, however, has not been given too much space, intense speedy black metal having taken over also sharing some of the orchestral pompousness of later-period Emperor.
Pestilence Hungers in the Shadows EP 2011
"Po Kratkom Postupku" shows the guys trying to break the speed records again, and may succeed at some stage, since the manic fast shred here never stops even for a split second, boldly bordering on hardcore on the more frantic moments ("Znakovi"). "Gas Do Daske" is a pretty contrasting number moving from more laid-back speed/thrash to almost grindy mosh ala Cryptic Slaughter, but the softest piece would probably be the crossover joy "Lapot". For the rest one has to have a strong neck to survive through it: a truly dedicated to speed band.
Drzavni Neprijatelj Broj Kec Full-length, 2009
Po Kratkom Postupku Full-length 2011
Unfortunately at the present time the guys prefer to invest more time and efforts into their other project: the much less impressive groove-laden
Betzefer.
World Collapse 2003 Demo, 2003
A Moment Of Clarity Demo, 2005
In Vain Demo, 2006
The full-length is a great debut featuring forceful thrash of the old school. The guys concentrate on speed and aggression rather than technicality, like
it was the case on the demo, and as a result we have Slayer's "Reign in Blood" brought into the new millennium. Don't expect any calm moments: this is an
all-out thrash assault until the end. "Craving Your Flesh" betrays the intense thrashing a bit, clinging more towards the speed/thrashing metal side ala
early Whiplash; a situation corrected with the aggressive raging "Venomous Overdose". The closing "Torment In Pain" slows down with pounding riffs, and
just when one is happy to take a break from the guys' intense delivery, comes the closing section, which is another slab of fast furious thrash. This is a
really impressive dedication to the 80's sound, done with inspiration and love of the genre.
Thermonuklear Thrash Metal Warfare Split, 2005
Outbreak of Evil Vol. III Split, 2006
Apocalypse, Now or Never Full-Length, 2008
Backdraft EP, 2004
Law and Persecution Full-length, 2006
Cruel Tranquility Full-length, 1989
Zero to Black Full-length, 1990
"Fatal" is a smashing debut, one of the best metal albums to ever come out of Japan. This is perfectly executed classic 80's thrash with a Bay-Area
flavour, recalling Forbidden's "Forbidden Evil" and Death Angel's "The Ultra Violence". Furious thrashers like the opening "As the World Is Burnt" and
"Greed" are the backbone of the album, whereas "Scanning Hell" and "Lost Power" add a more technical, sophisticated touch to the proceedings. "Injector
II" is a brilliant song, which combines the more technical side of the two preceding tracks with the raging thrashing nature of the first two.
"Disruption" loosens up a bit, being a more uplifting thrash/crossover. The genuine technical edge remains for the last two numbers, and is even more
accentuated on, on the magnificent closer "Partial Existence": a riff-fest at its uncompromising best, covering less intense, more up-tempo galloping, and
super speedy moments: an encyclopaedia of perfectly executed classic thrash.
Twicet of Fate Full-length, 2001
For Blood Is The Life Demo, 1992
The "Wage Of Mayhem" EP, which is a remastered version of their debut demo of the same title from 1984, sees the guys still playing a more energetic brand of the up-and-coming at the time US power metal, the band trying to epitomize those characteristic heavy mid-paced riffs, by adding a touch of doom on the macabre cut "Witches Sabbath". "XXX" at the end was later included in "Indulgence", but with a boosted, more aggressive guitar participation, and is the only more thrash-fixated number on this cool warm-up, which is an obvious nod to Anvil's "Metal on Metal" and "Forged in Fire".
Indulgence Full-length, 1986
Abstract Reality EP, 1988
Penetration Point Full-length, 1989
Wage Of Mayhem EP, 2003
Psycho Psycho Full-length, 2004
Internal Damnation Demo, 1986
Outcasts Of Society Demo, 1986
The Compilation comes with a slightly muddy sound quality, with a noisy buzzy guitar sound at times, offering more simplistic stripped-down music much
closer to thrash metal sustained in fast tempos without any technical elements holding onto mid-period Sepultura ("Beneath the Remains", above all) as a
"guiding light", and succeeding here and there to capture the dark brutal atmosphere of the latter.
Natastor Full-length, 2005
Old Dirt EP, 2009
Their comeback work has acquired some modern tendencies, and is far less impressive than the band's strong debut, often going into a The Haunted, or a
modern day Overkill direction; it's not a total waste, though, and some tracks are really cool headbanging thrashers ("Falling to Pieces", "The Cross (I
Have to Bear)"). The problem is that this energy gets lost too often in the sea of slower, mid-paced, modern-sounding songs. The Untitled track at the end
is less-than-2-min of intense thrashing which should have been more frequently heard here.
"Devolution Of Species" expands into other genres, courting the modern trends above all. The music still has a slight thrashy edge (again the last song is
the most aggressive one), but is much slower with clear gothic, even doom pretensions ("Fist in the Air"), and at times dangerously smells more recent
Sentenced. Many thrash fans might lose their patience long before the end, and no one would blame them. Apparently these guys have buried the thrash metal
hatchet for good...
Resurrection of the Wicked Full-length, 2006
Devolution Of Species Full-length, 2009
"The Old Family is Alive" offers nothing new, both title and music-wise. And it's hardly necessary since the guys do a good job, thrashing with gusto,
staying quite close to "Fabulous Disaster", with the emblematic Steve Souza-like vocals leading the pack, doing a nice job. At times the music acquires a
nice playful edge, also characteristic of the works of the Americans Ultimatum ("Nu Posers Don't Scare Anyone", "Into The Clubhouse"). The guys rely mostly
on smashing mid-paced riffage and catchy choruses, a typical example of which is "The Old Family Is Still Alive", but speedy thrash monsters ("Let Me See
Your Pogo", "Please Welcome...my Friends!") are not a rarity, either. A rarity are the merry go-round crossover pieces: only one of the kind ("Wanted"). At
times the listener may complain that the music lacks an edge, and relies too much on playful, tested formulas, but all is forgiven on the excellent intense
closer "This Is A Raid", the best song on the album, a glorious Bay-Area hymn.
The Old Family is Alive Full-Length, 2009
First Born Full-length, 2003
An Awful Rage Full-length, 2006
At Ease With The Beast Full-length, 2004
Inde Deus Abest Full-length, 2007
The Naytia Horror Kinky Show Split, 199?
Fix Full-length, 1999
End Of Trust Full-length, 2002