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.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.
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 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 some 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 Daggerspawn.
Metal Je Rat EP, 2009 My Space NAGNOENIE (RUSSIA)
Thrash/crossover of the retro variety with gruff semi-death metal vocals whcih 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)
Quite 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 some groove involved, ala Pantera and Machine Head. A contribution to the album's appeal make stars from the thrash/death 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 very 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 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"), some 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.
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 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 satysfying 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 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 some 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 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 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 NATAS (USA)
Brutal amateurish thrash, 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.
Natastor Full-length, 2005 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 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 pull out some 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 some 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.
Native Instinct Full-length, 2000 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 NDE (USA)
Based on "End of Trust": this band offer ordinary, unimaginative groovy thrash. There's little energy or dynamics involved; only for groove completists.
Falling Full-length, 1996 Official Site NEBUKADNEZZA (UK)
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.
Nebukadnezza Full-length, 2002 Official Site NEBULIZER (BRAZIL)
A classic take on crossover/thrash, with the typical 1-2 min long tracks and the traditional energetic delivery.
We Are Whipcore Thrashers Demo, 2004 My Space NECK SPRAIN (HUNGARY)
Heavy groovy thrash, clinging towards Machine Head's mid-period, maybe more aggressive, but also slower, with moments recalling the stoner/doom movement ("Pray", "Blinded Creed"). There's no speed or energy put here, strictly for groove lovers. The last song "Dime" is actually a cool ballad, and the best song here; it's a tribute to... well, the title says it all... R.I.P.
Heavyweight-3rd Round Full-Length, 2006 NECKROFIGHT (HUNGARY)
This live demo offers cool retro thrash reminiscent of Forbidden's debut, energetic and speedy, with vicious Schmier-like vocals, but the singer here quite often adheres to the higher registers, screaming his lungs out, which is an annnoying addition, and hardly necessary. The closing track is an enjoyable, faithful cover of Sex Pistols' "Anarchy in the UK".
Live at Láng Műv. Ház Demo, 1990 NECRODAMUS (USA)
This act was formed after another one: the doom/sludgers Ultralord, split up. Based on the EP: no traces of sludge here, at least not that obvious, but doom is quite well covered, even at times taking over the sleepy creepy slow thrash which can be heard, supported by raspy black-ish vocals, which in their turn are "accompanied" by dramatic clean semi-operatic ones.
Necrodamus EP, 2004 Official Site NECRODEAD (CHILE)
Based on "Frustrated Message", this band play good technical thrash/death, quite fast and vicious at times, reminding of Hellwitch and Atheist, with cool technical guitars, nice change of tempos, and fine deviations from the pattern (the opener "Rebelious Feeling" is a very good moody, slow, technical number). "Cultural Elimination" speeds up, but only a little, remaining in the slower confines. The real aggression begins with "Fatal Existencia", and the rest contains some of the better moments from the technical thrash/death metal scene of the 90's. Striking melodies you might find here, both in the riff and the lead guitar department. The vocals are along the lines the aforementined bands: unholy semi-shrieks, at times semi-whispered. "Nevrose" is a graceful 1-min acoustic instrumental.
Frustrated Message Full-length, 1994 NECRODEATH (ITALY)
Arguably the finest Italian thrash metal band; their debut is a raw brutal combination of thrash, black and proto-death, quite inspired and edgy, obviously influenced by the relentless speed moshing of Kreator's "Pleasure to Kill" and the outrageous blask/thrash aesthetics of Sarcofago's "I.N.R.I.", nicely occupying the "go-between" position between same year's Protector's pioneering death metal work "Misanthropy" and the more extreme side of European thrash (Kreator, Sodom, Messiah); all songs are played at lightning speed, topped by vicious black-ish vocals.
Into the Macabre Full-length, 1987 My Space NECRODEMON (USA)
Based on "Ice Fields Of Hyperion", this is thrash/death metal similar to the Americans Usurper: Tom G. Warrior-like vocals, heavy Celtic Frost-influenced riffs mixed with some brutal death metal. "Frozen Sorceror (Chant Of Making V)" is a particularly nice touch: an excellent off-beat melodic instrumental piece with a classy lead guitar.
Haunted Eons Full-length, 1999 My Space NECROFAGO (BRAZIL)
Brazil has a huge contribution to the formation of the extreme metal genres in the 90's. Based on the "Desire for Blood" demo, these guys take no prisoners with their brutal, fast thrash/proto-death metal. The musicianship is not on a very high level, and the sound is a bit messy, but it should work all right for fans of early Messiah and the pleiad of acts from Brazil: Sarcofago, Vulcano, etc.
Desire for Blood Demo, 1987 NECROFOBIA (BRAZIL)
Modern 90's thrash not miles away from Sepultura's "Chaos AD", but less aggressive; the heavy, smashing riffs are intercepted by some good headbangers ("Placebo", "Punch"), but this happens seldom, and the guys are quite faithful to the music of their peers most of the time. The lead guitar is quite good, but unfortunately it is not given much room here.
Machine of War '95 Full-length, 1995
Vermination Full-length, 2002
Second Demo Demo, 1985
Drzavni Neprijatelj Broj Kec Full-length, 2009
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 albums to 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
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
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 there.
"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 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
The Naytia Horror Kinky Show Split, 199?
Fix Full-length, 1999
End Of Trust Full-length, 2002
Onslaught Full-length, 2004
There Is No Revolution Full-length, 2009
No Rest for the Wizard Full-length, 2007
Path To Dead Full-length, 2007
2 years later the band sounded a lot tighter, with a much better polished sound, tinged with black/proto-death metal again, standing proud to same year's extreme thrash masterpieces like Kreator's "Extreme Aggression", Sacred Reich's "Ignorance", and Evildead's "Annihilation of Civilization". Their style was very appealing, and looked pretty much in pace with what was going on the extreme metal scene at that time, but the guys left this project behind for the sake of one thrash/crossover album under the name of Mondocane in 1990, a joint effort with Schizo members after which members of the band were seen in other Italian metal acts through the years: Sadist, Raza de Odio, etc. "Mater Of All Evil" is truly one of the best comeback albums made of the past 10 years, showing that despite the long absence the band haven't lost their touch to play high quality thrash/black metal. "Black as Pitch" continued in the same vein, but "Ton(e)s of Hate" was a disappointment to an extent, offering a more melodic slower approach, with more nods to black. "100% Hell" was a furious slab of thrash, the band's most intense effort, coming closest to the band's 80's material, a really fine piece of hard-hitting thrash at its classic best.
"Draculea" starts and finishes with long atmospheric, symphonic instrumentals (quite good, by the way), but what comes between them is not bad although compared to the explosive "100% Hell" this effort by all means falls short. The band do not betray their potent mixture of aggression and technicality: fast, intense tracks take turns with slower, black-tinged ones, which this time are a bit more than the good taste allows, and for the fans of Venom there is a cool cover version of their hymn "Countess Bathory". The cover is surprisingly put in the middle of the album, followed by the excellent instrumental "The Golden Cup", boasting great lead guitars.
After the shaky "Draculea" it was necessary for the band to come up with something better in order to keep their place on the front row of thrash among the ever growing competition, and "Phylogenesis" could be considered that "something", although to these ears it leaves "something" to be desired. It starts with the brutal, almost grinding at times "Awakening Of Dawn", after which "something" slower, but quite interesting and technical comes: the dark atmospheric and winding "I.N.R.I.". Then the furious thrashing continues with "The Theory". Time for more atmosphere of the doomy variety with "Extreme Emotional Shock", which nicely starts as a ballad. "Time Never Dies" softens the album even more, being a mid-paced semi-balladic composition; a raging thrashy section is included somewhere in the middle, but it only serves to confuse the listener. "Propitiation Of The Gods" is better with a cool mix between faster and slower passages, and a good Oriental theme; the 2nd half is doomy thrash with the speed completely gone once again. "Cloned World" is a pleasant surprise: good aggressive technical thrash, but "Persuasive Memory" slows down for the upteenth time, with the obligatory fast technical break later on which this time is well chosen, and saves the track from being another calm mid-paced doomy thrasher. The final "Final War" is 7-min of decent mid-tempo thrash, partially excused by the very good leads. As a whole this release is not too different from the previous one with the slower material again being the predominant, seeing the guys consolidating a style which tries to please more than the average thrash fan, but this marriage between Orient-inclined melody and technicality, without the intensity and aggression of previous releases present, needs more refinement and a bit more edge.
Fragments of Insanity Full-length, 1989
Mater of All Evil Full-length, 1999
Black as Pitch Full-length, 2001
Ton(e)s of Hate Full-length, 2003
100% Hell Full-length, 2006
Draculea Full-Length, 2007
Phylogenesis Full-length, 2009
Non-Divine EP, 2001
Incipit Fear EP, 2003
Allegiance to the End Full-length, 2003
Ice Fields of Hyperion Full-length, 2006
Brutal Mutilation Demo, 1988
Rehearsal Demo, 1988