Copyright (c) 2007-2010 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 Q-SQUAD (GERMANY)
Although the name of Syke Bornetto may raise some hopes (to those to whom this name doesn't ring a bell, this is the singer who did a great job on the 2nd Exumer album, shouting his lungs out to produce one of the scariest, most brutal performances ever), the music is flat-out boring modern post-thrash, with predictable riffs, and numerous cheesy nods to something which is too awful to be described. 90's Chastain, but much inferior, mixed with the worst from Skid Row's "Slave to the Grind" would be a fairly complimentary description. Nedless to say, the sound often exits the thrash metal field, going into all undesirable directions known to the human being. It's not worth even a minute of your precious time...
Psyched... Full-length, 1995 QIASMO (PORTUGAL)
3 songs of classic thrash/death metal with interesting, but undeveloped, heavy doomy sections; the tempo varies between those doomy attempts and fast aggressive ones topped by brutal low growls. The sound quality is bad with almost no bass to be heard also giving a very thin sound to the leads.
Qiasmo Demo, 2010 My Space QUANTUM HERESY (USA)
All-instrumental modern post-thrash, hectic and heavy with industrial elements; there are interesting more melodic deviations ("Anomalous Temporal Reaction", which is an interesting atmospheric technical piece; the more quiet progressive Opeth-esque "Finally, Terra Firma"), but the rest is hard unmelodic shred with loads of groove and smashing down-tuned guitars bordering on sludge/doom ala Crowbar.
The Traveler Full-Length, 2009 QUESTIONS (BRAZIL)
Based on "Fight For What You Believe", this young Brazilian band play thrash mixed with hardcore along the lines of Pro-Pain, reminding of this band's earlier, and better period. Mr. Iggor Cavalera guests on the remake of the album opener "Conscience" at the end.
Resista! Full-length, 2003 Official Site QUICK CHANGE (USA)
The band's debut is fairly good energetic classic thrash topped by some slighly hysterical, high-pitched vocals; the music has its shades from the Bay-Area scene, but Slayer could be another close call on some parts. The band have the detrimental tendency to insert some really odd, melodic, heavy/power metal songs ("Show No Mercy", "Injected"), which is not exactly the best way to look for a wider appeal; the rest is hard-hitting, intense thrashing, served with a considerable doze of aggression at times (What's Next?").
Circus of Death Full-length, 1988 Official Site QUINTA ESSENTIA (USA)
On the band's debut some quite interesting, and frequently brutal progressive black/death metal can be heard, with timids nods to thrash, but on "Archetypal Transformation" thrash steps over, and the final result is really impressive. The songs meander quite a lot, containing loads of melodies, moods and time changes, and consequently easily close over the 7-min limit. The lead guitarist is all over the place, and could put to shame many more renowned names from the shred department, and most of the time leaves a good impression, although his pyrotechnics are too many, like on the opener "Venom Of The Pernicious", which is a great number, by the way, a small album in itself. Another very complex masterpiece follows: "The Universal Longing", but don't expect very technical play of the Polish Sceptic or the Canadians Martyr type: this album is infused with a lot of melody ala Misanthrope or another Canadian band: Quo Vadis. Something shorter, more brutal, and less elaborate comes after: "Absent Illumination", and then the crowning achievement of the album: the exquisite technical piece "Formative Evasion", which abruptly jumps on the technical thrash/death metal wagon. "Forgotten But Not Undreampt" is a 10-min symphony of orchestral thrash/death not far from, but more technical than, Bal-Sagoth, and the closer leaves room again for the lead guitar player to amaze even further the listener, with some mind-blowing performance as a finishing touch.
Neutrality for Defined Chaos Full-length, 2006
Archetypal Transformation Full-length, 2008
Official Site QUMRAN (MEXICO)
Your average Swedish thrash/death metal ala The Haunted and Terror 2000, fast and energetic, with not very pleasant hardcore vocals; the guys vary the tempo, and there's plenty of catchy melodic hooks to be heard, but this is hardly the most original effort of recent times.
Dark Days Of The World Full-length, 2008 Official Site QUO VADIS (POLAND)
Throughout their lenghty career, Quo Vadis offer a wide variety of styles. Their base is definitely thrash, but there is a certain doze of death, modern metal and even some industrial and more laid-back heavy metal parts. Their first two releases are of a more consistent quality featuring some cool, well played death/thrash. "Babel" is another worthy release, reflecting the band's music's diverse nature very well, including some furious death metal numbers: "Judasz", mixed with equally as intense thrashers: "God", plus the cool deviations from the path: the epic track "Ishrael", the pure heavy metal hymn "Pax", and the nice ballad at the end "Feniks".
Quo Vadis Full-length, 1991 Official Site QUROQ (RUSSIA)
A rough modern blend of thrash and death (more thrasn than death) metal with surprising more laid-back semi-progressive nuances; the malagam doesn't work all the time since the guys stick to heavy groove quite a bit, and brisk energetic passages are often "killed" by clumsy uninspired ones.
Vosmidesijatie Demo, 2009
QUTIN (IRAN)
A surprisingly strong entry into the progressive thrash metal genre from the most unlikely place. This is very jumpy, but very coherent, music with sudden tempo changes and plenty of interesting both technical and melodic decisions to be appreciated. "A Future without Tomorrow" is an intense "busy" opener ala Atheist plus great Oriental hooks which remain a lightmotif throughout. "Doom In Heaven" has nothing to do with doom, and is a brilliant technical thrasher with addictive melodic Oriental "decorations". "Evolution" is longer and more elaborate with balladic throw-ins and hectic jumpy riffs, followed by the atmospheric acoustic instrumental "Tide". Then "Revolution Of Thought" does further damage with lashing steel technical riffs going up the speed level as well recalling old masters like Flaming Anger and Deathrow. "Destroy The Lies" is a moody slower composition with sudden faster inclusions, a more conventional less complex track compared to the rest. It's followed by the interesting more technically-graced cover of Slayer's "Spirit in Black", which is virtually the closer if we exclude another peaceful acoustic piece at the end ("Land Of Caves"). This is so surprising that one may want to give it a few listens in a row; still, the effect will be the same: a standout offering from the more technical side of metal which should find a wider exposure considering the place where the guys come from.
Rationalism Full-Length, 2010 Copyright (c) 2007-2010 THE THRASH METAL GUIDE
"Confrontos" is 3 songs of better music which this time mixes the classic roots with modern elements, and manages to stay dynamic and interesting offering a frequent change between heavy, almost doomy again, and faster headbanging passages the latter even coming proto-death-tinged on "Quem És" which live up to the brutality already served in the vocal department.
Confrontos EP, 2010
Fight For What You Believe Full-length, 2007
After the reformation in 2000, the music has become more melodic and modern, and far less impressive. "Money, Lust & Greed" is bland, boring post-thrash, which falls far behind most of the comeback albums made by their 80's contemporaries. It falls somewhere between the Machine Head mid-period and the Black Album, but is about 8-9 years late. It desperately tries to insert as many modern elements as possible, but should have stuck to the hard riffage, like it happens on a few tracks ("Money, Lust, and Greed"). Instead, near the end the guys just fall prey to the balladic and stoner sound, and lose it completely. "IV Life" is even worse, with its unfocused, mild approach, seemingly a preparation for the band to leave the metal field.
Money, Lust & Greed Full-length, 2000
IV Life Full-length, 2003
It turned out that the band's mid-period is also worth checking out. "Uran" is a cool work of more laid-back thrash; "Uran" thrashes with force in a way quite similar to the most aggressive material from the band's previous efforts. Later the music loses the intensity, acquiring more technical tendencies, but remains fairly interesting, with the Bananarama cover of "Venus" (don't frown here, folks- the cover is well made, not too dancy: lol!), followed by the nice choppy, modern thrasher "Nie Kazdy". "Nabrani" is an aggressive, direct piece, with nods to death metal. "Nazajutrz" is the highlight of the album, being a heavy technical number with slight industrial overtones, after which another very enjoyable cover awaits you: an energetic crossover take on Sting's "Every Breath You Take" (hey, guys, enough with the awkward choices!). The last "Wielki Ogie?" is an ambitious, but excellent 8-min slow-ish, semi-balladic opus with nice female vocals, which will truly make your day (this depends on the taste, of course, since there is hardly anything inside that belongs to the thrash metal field). This is a very diverse, but enjoyable listen, ranking among the highest achievements of the band.
"Infernal Chaos" is an expectedly varied affair with thrash and death metal the main genres the former more prevalent, also reflected in a couple of more laid-back melodic tracks. The sound is definitely modern with sparce classic leanings. There are several gothic-tinged songs ("Cross of Gold", "Chaos") which strongly recall mid-period Cemetary, resemblances with the Swedes also in the vocal department. The album actually starts in a high note with two energetic intense pieces ("Caducus", "Blood for Oil") which promise a lot of headbanging fun, but the rest is not even half as fast and aggressive which may be a pullback to some. Still, there will be many entertained on the jolly crossover closer "Russia" which is an amalgam of a few famous Russian folk/revolutionary songs.
Politics Full-length, 1993
Test Draizea Full-length, 1995
Uran Full-length, 1997
Po Full-length, 1999
Król Full-length, 2002
Babel Full-length, 2006
Infernal Chaos Full-length, 2010