Copyright (c) 2007-2024 THE THRASH METAL GUIDE 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 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 second 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. Needless to add, 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)
Three tracks of classic thrash/death metal with interesting, but undeveloped, heavy doom sections; the tempo varies between those doom-fixated 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 QUADRUPLE (SWEDED)
Crunchy, still immersed in the 90's modern thrash/post0thrash which freely borrows from stoner, doom, grunge, and the hard'n heavy roster ("Actors"), the more serious riff-formulas offered on "Ideology of Death" a bit on the cumbersome, monotonous side. The rough abrasive semi-clean singer doesn't really shine, challenged a bit more on the more dynamic material ("Flashback"), the remainder lacking energy for the most part, the stoner/doom closer "Psychopath" finely epitomizing the spirit of the other compositions.
Quadruple Full-length, 2004 QUAERE VERUM (USA)
Very cool heavy modern thrash metal with frequent technical tendencies; the approach is jumpy with occasionally stylish sterile riffage mixing Coroner and Altered Aeon in equal dozes with the rough overshouty, death metal vocals a major detraction. The music, on the other hand, delivers on all counts with surreal, technical, and melodic sections alternating to a pretty positive effect, especially on the hallucinogenic abstract masterpiece "Houdini Massacres" which is a whirlwind of cool twisted riffs and puzzling signatures with also echoes of death metal (think the Russians Hieronymus Bosch or a more restrained Necrophagist).
Quaere Verum EP, 2011 QUAKE (UK)
This new formation specialize in classic thrash with heavy overtones not far from sacred Reich although the approach here is more complicated as evident from the opening "Subsisto Novus Ordo Seclorum" which is whole 8-min. Later on such a complexity is not to be encountered, and the guys start thrashing with might: check out the raging "Reckless Intensity", and the Slayer-esque brooder "Kill Fight & Survive". The last couple of tracks emphasize more on the pounding side of their repertoire which, combined with some more vivid riffage on the closer "Collision", stand for the highlight along with the impressive screamy leads.
Subsisto Novus Ordo Seclorum EP, 2014 Official Site QUAKE THE EARTH (FINLAND)
Modern thrash/post-thrash with very shouty aggro-vocals, but with friendlier rhythms and a more playful attitude applied in the music department reminiscent of Pro-Pain and later-period Misery Loves Co. The problem here is that the guys never bother to speed up, not even for a split second, and the delivery may get tiresome on the ears at some stage.
Declaration Of War Full-Length, 2016 QUANDARY (PORTUGAL)
Three tracks of roughly-sounding classic thrash with rending hysterical vocals ala early Mille, and several more clever arrangements (the hectic technical shredder "Splenderous Awakenings"; the excellent virtuous leads on "Alcor Life Extension"). The dominant pace is mid as the guitars are constantly razor-sharp hampered by the muddy sound quality.
Demo Demo, 1994 Demo Download 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 intriguing 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 QUANTUM VOID (POLAND)
Based on the full-length, this band play serviceable modern power/thrash that attempts something at least quasi-progressive on the lengthy odyssey "Insidious Bane", the fast-paced insistency of "Old Enemy" stirring fervent moshpits with ease, whereas cuts like "Schizophrenic" and the hectic "Undead Thoughts" wink at the less ordinary ways of execution with a wider array of time and tempo shifts. "Extreme Aggression", which wraps on the guys' endeavours is... yes, correct, a cover of Kreator from the mythical slab of the same title, a really nice rendition of this immortal hit, the screechy/shouty vocals suiting the sizzling melee, also recalling Mille's early vocal exploits.
Out of the Void EP, 2020 Official Site QUARTERBLIND (UK)
Based on the debut, these lads offer modern thrash with both a metalcore and progressive vibe and occasional more aggressive death metal-ish additives ("Call to Masses"); epic battle-like ("Asunder", "Bleeding the Guilty") numbers take turns with faster-paced ("Torn In Two") propositions the former aspect dominating the landscape, the overshouty death metal vocals leading the parade with all the vociferous panache they can muster.
Bleeding the Guilty Full-length, 2007 My Space QUASARBORN (SERBIA)
The debut: musicians from several Serbian old school thrash metal acts (Fatality, Infest, Space Eater, etc.) have joined forces here for the creation of this "beast" which tries to sound more elaborate and more engaging than the repertoire of the mentioned outfits by epitomizing a more carefully plotted approach comparable to the one of Paradox and Vendetta. Energetic multi-faceted compositions ("The Underdog League") are the core of this opus with the mosh preserved all over, not without the help of several shorter, more linear cuts ("Blood Honey", "No Mustapha Mond"). "Transcendence" is a great lyrical all-instrumental interlude with the excellent more mechanical, more modern-ish presentation on the closing title-track another highlight with the cool intense semi-clean vocals an apt assistance all over save for the time when not very appropriate deathly insertions appear.
The Odyssey to Room 101 Full-length, 2018 Official Site QUASIMODO (GERMANY)
Based on the debut, this act produce a sloppy not very rehearsed mixture of power, speed and thrash topped by amateurish throaty semi-declamatory vocals. The chaos unleashed on the aggressive thrasher "They Don't Told You" at the beginning is probably the most interesting part from this all-over-the-place recording which later thrown in a catchy heavy rocker ("Catch"), a frolic crossover jump-around ("C.I.A.W.B."), and the weird quasi-progressive title-track. "Beautiful Day" is a curious combination of intense thrashing and soothing balladic interludes, and "Nothing" tries to upgrade the scattered repertoire to the more brutal proto-death parametres with again spasms of beautiful romantic balladisms.
C.Y.R. Full-length, 1999 Official Site QUASSAR (USA)
This band play intense modern thrash with light death metal "ornamentations" coming from the Gothenburg school. The slower material ("First Multinational Empires") recalls Amon Amarth also spiced with interesting Oriental motifs, but the faster numbers ("Relinquisition") are pure unadulterated bash ala Dew-Scented. "The Iron Law Of Money" is a more interesting semi-technical cut its seriousness partly matched by the closing semi-doomster "Extinction Of Thought". The singer is a typical deathly shouter who at least shouts intelligibly even trying to sing at times.
Evolution To Annihilation Full-Length, 2013 Official Site QUEMASANTOS (INTERNATIONAL)
This Chilean/US collaboration pull out classic power/thrash which has its more dynamic moments ("Acceso Denegado", "Justicia Digital"), but
overall this is heavy mid-paced music accompanied by hoarse but effective attached semi-clean vocals. "12 Balas" is a cool invigorating speedster, and the closing "Somos Legion", which is offered in two versions, a composition recorded earlier, is an imposing epic march. Some of the musicians also play with the old school thrashers All Angels Massacre.
Quemasantos Full-length, 2022 Official Site QUESTIONMARK (HOLLAND)
Quite good, albeit roughly-produced, classic thrash, very energetic stuff with somewhat high-strung, slightly hysterical, vocals which are at times helped by brutal death metal ones. The band play fast and tight with explosive riffs and a not very overt shade of proto-death metal ("Dead, Though Not Guilty", "Usufructuary") the latter side having a certain Rigor Mortis-esque character with a very cool bass bottom.
Useless? Demo, 1990 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 slightly 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 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 QUICKFIRE (ARGENTINA)
This outfit is the continuation of Quickfire Deus Sol Invictus (see the review below); the guys have shortened the name but haven't changed the style much as the latter isn't very far from the one on the other act's sophomore "War, Philosophy, Death", only more tightly and more coherently executed. In other words, the musicians indulge in steady mid-paced power/thrash which is more on the classic side, but the boosted guitar work gives it a somewhat modern-ish vibe as well. The vocalist doesn't fluctuate a lot keeping with the not very eventful chug of his comrades, his consistent, not very adventurous mid-ranged timbre. "Death by Fire" and the brisk galloping title-track raise the stakes higher with a more dynamic speed/thrash clout, but the epic melodicism of cuts like "Destructionism" and "Contemplations of the Sun Warrior" keep the proceedings within mellower less brutal parametres. More technical instrumental variations like the ones on "Invincible Under The Sun" are more than welcome, also providing a stylish technical flair which should be more emphasized on in the future.
Conqueror of the Void Full-Length, 2019 QUICKFIRE DEUS SOL INVICTUS (ARGENTINA)
A cool tribute to the 80's speed/thrash heritage; the guys play with gusto and passion the playful melodic leads a particular highlight. The speedy saga continues even on a couple of longer pieces in the middle which could have had some progressive pretensions if it wasn't for the relentlessly fast riffage: check out the 8-min speed/thrash delight "Casus Belli". "Hypnotized By Death" is a kind of a break with its more restrained galloping riffs, but the following opus "Necronomicon" will shoot you at close range with a mighty portion of fiery, blitzkrieg riffs lasting for over 7-min. The compositions become longer towards the end, "Traitors" alone being 10-min slowing down a bit, but introducing clever semi-technical sections which are even more effective. And this should have been the end since after it comes the quiet all-instrumental oddity "Solar Wheel" which is a dreamy doom cut with slightly distorted guitars and a better faster-paced lead-driven ending. It's really good to hear an act from Argentina trying something fresher than the mild power/thrash patterns of the genre pioneers (Lethal, Horcas, Hermetica), pulling it out with style with seldom a foot wrong.
Deus Sol Invictus Full-Length, 2012 Official Site QUIMERA (CHILE)
This band play classic thrash of the gruff stomping type which suddenly gets intercepted by stylish hooks and melodic leads. The guys seldom speed up and consequently their monolithic, consistently heavy delivery may wear thin at some stage, although the end would inevitably raise some brows: "Infame Justicia Masterizado" which serves aggression, melody and even a pinch of technicality within just under 3-min.
Demo Demo, 2010 My Space QUINTA ESSENTIA (USA)
On the band's debut some quite interesting, and frequently brutal progressive black/death metal can be heard with timid 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 Undreamt" is a 10-min symphony of orchestral, classical 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 the umpteenth mind-blowing performance as a finishing touch.
Neutrality for Defined Chaos Full-length, 2006 Official Site QUIRON (GERMANY)
Based on "Deathward", these folks deliver modern progressive thrash/post-thrash which relies on heavy lashing riffs and a not bad "gruff vs. clean" vocal duel. "Checkmate" is a hard-hitting thrasher without breaking any speed barriers, and generally the approach is on the heavy mid-paced side with the obligatory balladic digressions ("I Become Me") where the clean vocals lead the show. There's some groove ("Pills 'N' Ghosts") to be savoured, but expect your neck to be sprained on the more aggressive tunes, like on the closing "Down in the Basement" which thrashes hard with a covert death metal flair.
"Confrontos" is three 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
Escaping Reality Full-length, 2023
The Root of Affliction Full-length, 2010
"A Pill Hard to Swallow" would be another high-octane entertainment for those who loved the debut as the guys don't change the formula drastically, the title-track introducing a more laid-back balladic motif into the contrived picture the latter winning from the presence of short lively injections like "Identity Catharsis" and "Atlas" the more ambitious ways of execution reflected in the twisting "Nothing" and the variegated progressiver "Stalemate with Suicide" which wins a lot of points from the first-rate attached vocal performance. "Clouds" is a cool wink at the 90's German power/speed metal school, and "The Humbling" is a fitting epitaph with its more modern clinical tech-thrashing character.
“Novo OruzjeprotivBola” is only a partial return to the more hectic dynamic formulas from the debut, the melodic hospitality of “Urobor” standing humbled before the semi-technical shenanigans unleashed on “Ne MozesImatiSve” and “Od Kolevke do Rova”, but “Menja Se” is a heavy semi-balladic epic, and ‘Prostor-vreme” is a power/thrash amalgam with lyrical serene digressions. As a whole, the guys have abandoned the more open thrashier motifs, opting for a more expansive, also spacey progressive arsenal.
A Pill Hard to Swallow Full-length, 2020
Novo Oruzje Protiv Bola Full-length, 2023
One Shot Full-length, 2017
"AlieNation" is a more aggressive offering with more overt death metal-ish atmosphere. Surprising more technical cuts (the
excellent"Internal State Experience") are also provided, albeit not abundantly. Still, the energy remains on a high level with
the casual more stylish shredder ("One World, Two Sides") added to the really heavy delivery in the 2nd half where the riffs start
weighing a ton and beyond.
AlieNation Full-Length, 2015
"Pushed Out ... of Society" is another intense thrashcore affair the guys moshing out with passion without overdoing it with short energetic cuts among which "Discord" is the most violent one only matched at the end by the Sepultura cover of "Troops of Doom" which is turned into pure death metal slaughter.
Fight For What You Believe Full-length, 2007
Rise Up Full-length, 2009
Life Is a Fight Full-length, 2011
Out of Society EP, 2013
Pushed Out ... of Society Full-length, 2015
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.
The Unreleased EP is a graceful continuation of the full-length, containing songs which range from heavy seismic power/thrashers ("House of Way") to more intense speedy pieces ("Surgical Splatter"). The sound quality is a bit muddy, though, but it can hardly stand on the way on furious thrashterpieces, like "Lobi Down", for example. The singer this time sounds better, not as high-pitched, still preserving his attached melodic style, now curiously recalling John Mathias (Unleashed Power).
Unreleased EP Demo 1990
Money, Lust & Greed Full-length, 2000
IV Life Full-length, 2003
"War, Philosophy, Death" doesn't exactly disappoint if we exclude the slightly pristine sound quality, a drastic difference from the crystal clear one from the debut. The band have slowed down referring to more frequent epic passages which kind of don't sit too well with the very expressive bass support and the screamy leads. Again, the pieces are long some of them too full of influences like the totally out-of-context deathy section on "The Mask of Human Soul" which is an otherwise fairly cool speed/thrasher. Thumbs up for ambitious musicianship on the 12-min opus "Twilight of the Gods" which lacks the soaring flair of the Helloween hit of the same title, but develops in an officiant doom manner for at least half the time.
"Conqueror of the Void" is a decidedly more complex proposition, but the provided lengthy compositions at times meander without much sense, although "Death by Fire" is an admirable progressive thrasher, an engaging labyrinthine achievement, which partly finds its match in the nervy volatile "Ghosts of Ice". "March of the Sun God" flirts with melodic lyrical tricks, and consequently loses the thrash idea, being a steady prog-power metal anthem, its more tamed lustre shared by the cool near-10-min instrumental "Solar Wheel Part 3". The closing short "Metal Destruction" is easily the most aggressive number here, the band surely knowing their complex craft, even when the latter isn't always on the truly absorbing side.
"Fire of the Gods" is another moderately, also pleasantly complicated affair, the guys shooting their both melodic and intricate fireworks on the opening title-track, the melo-power/thrasher "Word of the Master, Blood of the Slave" not requiring any vocal disturbance, the latter provided for the optimistic lively rhythms of "Pride Cometh Before the Fall", the dramatic rushes of "UltraViolence" a sure eyebrow-raiser, soaring above the meditative balladisms of "The Wall Of Sleep", but paling in nearly every department before the tight riff-knots and sudden speedy escapades concocted on the closing saga "Hold the Lines".
War, Philosophy, Death Full-Length, 2015
Fire of the Gods Full-length, 2022
The full-length: the tracks from the demo are here so the seismic pounding nature of this effort is guaranteed the guys relieving the situation with the casual carefree crossover cut ("Ira Latina", the jumpy not very predictable "Engendrados Por La Radiación"). "Plaga" is another song worth mentioning, a vigorous intense headbanger, but the rest is really steam-rolling forward the stylish melodic leads a nice detraction from it. The closing already familiar from the demo "Infame Justicia Masterizado" is again the best composition here its sophisticated technicality pretty much one-of-a-kind on this otherwise not very original pedestrian offering.
Caos Full-Length, 2012
"Initiates of the Great Work": the band took a lengthy break bordering on the disband due to its duration, but they're back in the game with another classical-infused opus. The opening "The Wanderer Travels" pours a lot of drama over the listener who will again be stupefied at the brilliant lead sections which are now even more prominent since the riff-patterns are much less technical, to these ears a major pullback. "Flight Without Form" is an engaging operatic progressiver, but overall the guys take it easy settling for a more conventional approach. The technical exuberance of the hectic "Mystical Union" isn't to be come across elsewhere "Lunar Power" being a quiet meditative composition, and the instrumental "Linear Articulation of Intent" a linear speed metal shred. The title-track thrashes with more brains, but it's the closer "The Elixir of Liberation" which rages the hardest the untamed blast-beating passages bringing some hope that the guys still have some energy left for subsequent releases. Now this calm, not very eventful effort would sit best with the progressive metal fanbase.
Archetypal Transformation Full-length, 2008
Initiates of the Great Work Full-Length, 2016