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 SP 111 (GERMANY)
Based on the “Burn” demo, these folks serve heavy semi-modern power/thrash which straddles between the creepy subversive rhythms of “How Fast Can You Run” and the steady epic trot of the title-track, the good clean emotional vocals supervising the setting with slightly bigger drama on the doom-fixated march “Third Power”, before “Now” provides a more belligerent array of riffs for a change, alongside a cool memorable chorus.
SP 111 Demo, 1993 Facebook SPACE CHASER (GERMANY)
Based on the full-length debut, this act provide energetic retro thrash aiming at early Tankard, above all, inserting a slight crossover "sting" here and there. The numbers flow effortlessly without any strain, and the band march on with sharp guitars, vitriolic tempos, and sparse more elaborate arrangements ("Watch the Skies"). The short "Saucer Attack" is more on the speed metal side, and the leads there are quite great with an overt Oriental flair; watch out also for the ones on "Space Chaser" as well: some mighty stuff there. The hard, but frolic, thrashing carries on till the end making this effort a very welcome addition to the already voluminous horde of classic thrash purveyors.
Decapitron EP, 2013 Official Site SPACE EATER (SERBIA)
Based on the two demos, this band play standout retro thrash metal which will remind you of many great bands from the 80's: Helstar, Agent Steel, Forbidden, Heathen, Wargasm. The music is up-tempo, seldom goes into full out speed, but when it does, the result is nothing short of outstanding ("Crush Kill Destroy", a nice fast thrasher). The rest is by no means worse with heavy meaty riffs and excellent clean vocals.
Live at Studio 6 Demo, 2005 Official Site SPACE MONKEY (USA)
Modern proto-groovy thrash/post-thrash which relies on relatively moderate mid-paced formulas to pull it through, and at times, when the band put it all together, things sound not too far from Prong at their best ("My Life, My Curse"), but enters the melo-death/thrasher "Infested Waters", and the situation isn't that original anymore despite the healthy moshing boost. Alas, this also remains the only more aggressive cut here although the highlight to these ears seems to be the intense hard-hitter "Odessa" with its dramatic accumulations and clever semi-technical riffs.
The Blackest Hole Full-Length, 2016 SPACE PARASITES (USA)
The EP: these thrash "doctors" from Berlin will subject you to a most old school, full of space parasites therapy spearheaded by screechy, near-hysterical vocals those courtesy of a girl named Nadine Woelk or Danger Diene, her alias; music-wise this is both melodic and intense the guys (and a girl) moshing with reckless abandon through and through, shooting a bullet after bullet with the utmost intensity, "Call Of The Wild" acquiring more respiteful mid-paced dimensions, the rest being on the much less compromising side as exemplified by the supposed title-track "Thrash Doctor Of Blood Island", headbanging thrash hell let loose.
A Date with Thrash Doctor EP, 2018 Official Site SPANKING HOUR (ITALY)
Based on "Divination", these guys offer catchy hook-driven modern post-thrash quite close to Prong's 90's period only that here the style is prone to longer compositions where not much happens although the band try hard to entertain the listener with a frequent change of rhythms and sharp guitars which never lose their friendly tone despite their almost constant quasi-industrial tinge. Near the end the folks kind of overdo it with two gigantic (9-10min) songs fro which the final "The End" is a monotonous dragging groover with abrasive overtones the participation of the otherwise not bad angry semi-shouter brought to the minimum.
Revo(so)lution Full-length, 2010 Official Site SPARAGMOS (POLAND)
Based on "Conflict", this is industrial thrash which borrows from Fear Factory, and the Canadians Soulstorm in the heavier moments. There is a certain amount of groovy riffs ala Pantera, too, as well as more intense death metal passages and quite a few quiet alternative ones where there is the inclusion of cleaner vocals as opposed to the basic death metal ones.
Invitation from Host of Wrath Full-length, 1992 SPARTACUS (HOLLAND)
Based on the "What's So Funny?!" demo, this act serve brisk energetic thrash with Bay-Area overtones. The band play on with vigour and a sophisticated technical edge with allusions to early Testament, above all, and one may find it quote interesting that the singer sounds very close to the more brutal deathly metamorphosis of Chuck Billy in the late-90's, predating him with almost ten years. The guy here is perhaps more serious in terms of his belonging to the death metal realm, and more shouty which at times can be distracting from the fairly good music which is also not a "stranger" to more melody as evident from the licks engaged on the final "The Chase And Seek Of The Bismarck" which is an admirable technical shredder finishing this effort with style.
Luftangriff Demo, 1988 Official Site SPASMOPHILIUS (FRANCE)
Pretty acceptable old school thrash released at the least appropriate time, but by all means worth hearing not least due to a couple of more intriguing passages bordering on the progressive (think Psychotic Waltz, early Sieges Even): the mazey title-track. "Outside" thrashes with more passion where the very good passionate clean singer is "rudely" interrupted on a few occasions by guttural death metal grunts. "Fall Of Reason" is brooding and atmospheric, and "Dead Dreamer" is a direct and aboveboard headbanger. "Spasmophilia" "flirts" with choppier, more technical riffage, and "Eye Of The Shadows" elaborates on the progressive side with more intricate, but also more melodic (a balladic inclusion), riff-patterns the vocalist shining all over with his deeply emotional, warm performance. "Locked Within Myself" is a more sincere short rager partly ruined by the synthesized vocals; and the final "Blended Souls" is a bass-driven technicaller with an urgent main motif; all this served with a very clear sound quality and a high doze of professionalism. Earlier the band were called Gloomy Gherkin, and the style was classic heavy metal; and at present some of the musicians enjoy a lasting career as Gang, a modern post-thrash outfit with a string of full-lengths released through the new millennium.
The Maze Full-Length, 1997 Official Site SPASMS (FRANCE)
Intense modern post-thrash/post-death, the shouty death metal throat leading a small pack of punchy volcanic pieces among which "Collargore" is a crunchy semi-technical chopper, and "Lost" is a bolder attempt at more flexible thrash, those attempts (un)timely interrupted by the banal rehashed grooves on "Not From This Earth".
Demo Demo, 1997 Official Site SPATER (USA)
Based on "Desolate Endeavour", these guys offer hectic modern thrash with crossover tendencies. The riffage is crunchy seldom going for something really speedy and not before long one may get tired of this frolic edgy saga which becomes less and less serious with each passing song reaching stoner/doom/bluesy grounds near the end. The singer is an attached semi-shouter who holds quite a bit of melody as well which the simplistic music doesn't quite deserve.
Festering Memoirs Full-Length, 2004 Official Site SPAWN (HOLLAND)
Based on the debut demo, this unknown band plays atmospheric gothic-tinged thrash with brutal death metal vocals. The guys alternate fast with slow passages all this done on an omnipresent keyboard background, the final result not too far from the early Therion works, except for the fact that there is quite a bit of doom/gothic ala their compatriots Orphanage at play here stifling the more dynamic moments. Apparently the guys were not quite sure which path to take during those transitional times, so it would be interesting to check which one they had chosen on the next demo.
Before The Silence Demo, 1995 SPAWNED FROM HATE (UK)
This is weird aggressive modern/classic technical thrash/death metal which offers a few intriguing dissonant riffs and several interesting time-changes with echoes of both Immolation and Suffocation. This is stylish stuff impeded by the very brutal low-tuned guttural vocals and the awkward stomping groovy implements on the closing "Biotech Contagion". The sound quality is a bit muddy not doing a favour to the expressive, not very predictable, guitar delivery.
Withered And Decayed EP, 2012 SPAZM (RUSSIA)
Raw, badly produced classic thrash/death which is awkward in every department: the barely heard guttural death metal vocals, the distorted guitars, the not very appropriate quite moments which are too starkly contrasting to the bashing melee dominating the landscape. "Suka" is a more interesting semi-balladic doomster lasting for over 8-min; and the closing "Sekta" is a really cool technical shredder hinting at a bit hidden potential which these folks never managed to realise.
Secta Zla Demo, 1996 SPAZZTIC BLURR (USA)
An enjoyable amalgam of many contrasting styles which will make your day if you don't take it too seriously (and it's not meant to be). This is actually a side project of two Wehrmacht members, and this album shares some of the speed of the main band. Thrash, hardcore, grindcore, punk, jazz and more have found place here. Of course, like it happens with wild mixtures of the kind, you might find some of the tracks unappealing and downright stupid, but if you approach this release with a slight smile on your face, it's guaranteed that it'll become much bigger by the end of it.
Befo Da Awbum Full-length, 1988 My Space SPEAKING IN TONGUES (USA)
This obscurity boasts the presence of the drum authority John Grden who had graced with his performance acts like Fear of God, Have Mercy, etc. The music in this case is stomping and heavy not really resembling the one of the aforementioned bands, and can be literally squashing on pounders like "Soul Ascension" and "Vampire Symphony". Later on one will come across short bursters like "Forgotten Child" and the semi-technical riff-fest "Crash Landing To Insanity", and their application revives the mood big time on this otherwise not bad effort which also features good attached, expressive semi-clean vocals.
Speaking in Tongues Demo, 1992 SPEAR OF LONGINUS (AUSTRALIA)
Wow, here come a band from Australia who do not share members with Destroyer 666. This is not, however, a problem for the guys to provide an energetic, occasionally brutal mixture of black and thrash, not miles away from early Destroyer 666 spiced with softer punk tunes from time to time. This isn't a mish-mash, like some of you may think, but is enjoyable headbanging stuff, simplistic and direct.
Domni Satnasi Full-length, 1997 Official Site SPECIES (POLAND)
Three compositions of cleverly-constructed retro thrash which goes towards both the labyrinthine histrionics of Toxik's "Think This" ("Falls the Tower") and the energetic contrivances of Heathen's "Vistims of Deception" ("The Monument of Envy"), the cool clean/semi-clean vocals accommodating all the swings which reach their culmination on the excellent shredder "Thy Name Is Slaughter", a compelling amalgam crossing speedy crescendos and intricate dramatic accumulations the latter lightly touching the proto-death metal realm. A really interesting footnote which hopefully will receive a longer sequel.
The Monument of Envy EP, 2019 Official Site SPECKMANN PROJECT (USA)
The workaholic Paul Speckmann also managed to release one album under his own name, and again he managed to come with some cool music; this is excellent heavy thrash metal similar to Abomination, maybe a bit more dynamic (the fine up-tempo thrashers "Rabid Anger" and "Fallen From Grace") with the staple slower doomy tracks still present ("Mangled Dehumanization"). Some Slayer-esque aggression could be picked rarely ("Pay To Die"), a direction which Speckmann later pursued harder with Master.
Speckmann Project Full-length, 1992 SPECTERS OF MADNESS (CANADA)
Thrash/crossover, fast and energetic, but the bad sound quality diminishes the music's impact considerably.
Point of No Return Demo, 1986 SPECTRA (USA)
Modern power/thrash which is built around both laid-back mid-pacers ("Desperation") and rigorous galloping surprises ("Dictatorship", the nice clean singer ensuring the pleasant mood all over. "Famine" is a slightly overlong semi-ballad, and "Rebellion" tries to justify its title with a portion of more vivid riffs.
Spectra Full-Length, 2023 SPECTRAL (CHILE)
This is quite cool dark atmospheric thrash/death of the old school with shades of Death, Nocturnus and Pestilence with vocals very close to the intense shouty rendings of Martin van Drunen (Pestilence, Asphyx, etc.). The delivery is almost as compelling as the one of those acts with more complex numbers like the brilliant "The Abyss", a most tantalizing brooding technicaller, taking turns with more immediate ripping shredders ("Blind Souls"). "This Night a Soul Dies" acquires heavier tendencies, but the technical speedy showdown resumes on full-throttle before long reaching "Testimony of the Ancients"-esque heights with ease. "Days of Suffering" moshes with passion and quite a bit of melody the ensuing alluring drama reaching operatic proportions before the surgical, precise riffage on "Temple of Lies" puts an end to such aspirations, this number with some of the most dazzling riff cannonades of the new millennium, a pure feast for the ears, another major pretender for the Pestilence mentioned magnum opus, also offering a superb lead-driven balladic section. The closing "Predestined Infinity" takes it easy in the technical department, opting for more linear vigorous mosh the gorgeous lead pirouettes bemusing everyone at the end of this marvellous entry into the 2017 catalogue.
SP 111 II Demo, 1995
Burn Demo, 1997
"Dead Sun Rising" begins wish a splash with the perennial mosher "Metro Massacre", the latter an undeserved leftover from the Forbidden debut. The joy only becomes bigger later one, with highly energetic cuts like "Black Hole Circle Pit" and "Atomcrusher" "shooting" fiery riffs one after another. "Anthem" is a soaring speed metal hymn but its more melodic aesthetics don't prove contagious as the aggression continues on "The Harbinger", another mighty headbanger. "Skate Metal Punks (Mosh Up The Unmoshed)" is thrash/crossover played at the speed of light recalling Gama Bomb. The more ambitious side of the band's repertoire becomes evident from the longer and more complex "Judgement Day" which still speed/thrashes with force. No more experiments later as the guys continue the speed/thrashing mosh also trying something more technical on the short 2-min rager "Salivation Army" before the closing "Dead Sun Rising" wraps it on with calmer, slower riffs. The vocalist is a true find with his warm emotional clean baritone crossing Bruce Dickinson with Jim Mullis (Temple of Blood, Cauldron Born) his inspired performance close to being the highlight.
"Give Us Life" is another brisk recording with sharp lashing riffs, the delivery again clinging more towards the Bay-Area canons, with more technical mid-pacers ("Juggernaut") taking turns with more energetic shredders ("A.O.A."). Both sides are quite attractive, the latter prevailing in the end also thanks to impetuous headbanging delights like "The Immortals" and "Signals", the more laid-back speed metal veneer of "Burn Them All" a decent expansion, pairing well with the less intense, more intricate layout of "Give Us Life". The dramatic vehemence of the short twisting "Antidote to Order" is by all means one of the highlights, as well as the aggressive death-laced complexity of the final "Dark Descent".
Watch the Skies Full-length, 2014
Dead Sun Rising Full-Length, 2016
Give Us Life Full-length, 2021
"Merciful Angel" fulfills all the promises shown on the demos (not only due to the inclusion of some of the better tracks from them), this time concentrating almost exclusively on Agent Steel from the aforementioned influences (including this band's more recent sound), increasing the speed a bit, but also preserving all the other elements which made their demos so appealing.
"Aftershock" is another impressive speed/thrash metal "monster" wasting no time nailing you down with the opening speedster "Say Your Prayers", before all hell breaks loose even "worse" on the aggressive thrasher "Abort" which comes with both galloping and fierce blasting moments. "Divide & Conquer" is another lasher, quite aggressive one, with a genuine technical edge. "Up on These Shores" is more diverse with slower passages thrown in, but "FAA" is all-out speed once again crushing with both power and technicality for more than 7-min, a masterpiece of classic speed/thrash metal, the band's finest achievement so far. "Quantum Leap" and "Retreat" are vintage Bay-Area thrash ala the Forbidden debut, but "Crush, Kill, Destroy" is ultra-speed metal to the death. "Anti-Psychiatry" is a very surprising, but very welcome, turn to creepy modern technical thrash ala mid-90's Voivod and E-Force in the beginning, but later on the rage goes on by preserving the technical edge. "Relationshit" closes the album in a fast straight fashion lashing awesome direct riffs to a destructive effect. The singer is a find with his clean emotional high-strung delivery not far from the one of Russ Anderson (Forbidden), maybe a bit cleaner and lower. Fans of the old days of the genre will rejoice once again and may want to check out the demo of the other act: Fatality, where members of this band also play.
"Passing Through the Fire to Molech" won't disappoint the band fans who will mosh around like demented throughout the album the eventful opener "Unjagged" already promising quite a bit with its semi-technical hooks, nice melodies, brutal deathly outbursts, and the memorable chorus. Things get a bit scary on the following title-track with its dramatic death metallic accumulations, but this number is another "nail in the thrash coffin" the headbanging atmosphere partly "ruined" by the interesting "Daisy Cutter", but the actual damage would be done by the maddening brutalizer "P.O.W." and the super-speedster after it "Ninja Assassin". Till the end the up-tempo approach never falters as the closing "In Hospital" brings back the more technical flavour with a few intriguing decisions and the exiting portion of good melodic leads.
Bombs Away! Demo, 2006
Merciful Angel Full-length, 2007
Aftershock Full-length, 2010
Passing Through the Fire to Molech Full-Length, 2014
"The Spellbound Witch" is a decidedly more relaxed affair, the guys (and a girl) adding power metal ("Rot in Hell", "Cross the Line") to the foray, this element occupying more than half the time actually, the speed metal vigour of "Enter The Void" a needed injection of vitality; one which sadly doesn't occur elsewhere. The band have changed gears, their initially chosen aggressive stance assuredly fading with time.
Raw and Violent Full-length, 2019
The Spellbound Witch Full-length, 2022
Divination Full-length, 2013
"Invitation from Host of Wrath" is pretty good aggressive thrash/death metal in the vein of the French Agressor and Loudblast. The Poles are more technical with better lead guitar work, and their singer has a deeper, more brutal death metal timbre. The music is constantly fast ("Scream of Pompey" and "Cage" are the only deviations from the pattern into slower fields) with a frequent use of blast-beats. There is also one joke song with a rap rhythm near the end: "Dick Duck".
Error Full-length, 1994
Conflict Full-length, 1999
What's So Funny?! Demo, 1991
Desolate Endeavour Full-Length, 2012
Dawn Razor Demo, 1997
Nada Brahma EP, 1999
The Yoga Of National Socialism Full-length, 2002
Black Sun Society Full-length, 2004
Nothing is Forever, and, Forever is Nothing Full-length, 2006
.....and the Swastikalotus Full-length, 2007