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 Z-SECT (JAPAN)
This is another band to enjoy the vocal abilities of one of the most prominent Japanese metal voices: Nov (also Volcano, Aion). This band plays good speed/thrash of the more melodic variety, resembling the Aion debut album. The EP boasts really cool heavy thrashers ("Emergency") and nice speed metal pieces ("Inori"). The guitar sound, however, is too buzzy, and might annoy a bit.
N.O.V. EP, 1989 ZADKIEL (JAPAN)
Based on the debut EP, Zadkiel brought first in Japan the black/thrash metal sound of bands like Venom and Celtic Frost. The music is actually quite energetic, sounding like a mix of Venom and Exciter, with only "Hell's Bomber" carrying the dark, brooding character of the Celtic Frost sound.
Hell's Bomber EP, 1986 Vibrations of Doom ZADOK (GERMANY)
A heavy-handed, clumsy attempt at more complex power metal with timid touches of thrash; this is seriously bad, by the way, with unimaginative guitar work, repetitive song-structures, awful very flat vocal performance... stay away as far as possible; it could kill you (kidding, of course, but... don't push your luck too hard).
The Sign Full-length, 1995 Official Site ZAHERIR (CHILE)
Thrashcore with shades of crust; energetic one-dimensional stuff with abrasive guitars, short tracks (1-2min), and hoarse shouty vocals.
Veraz Aversión Demo, 2010 ZAKLANA CELJAD (SERBIA)
Amateurish raw thrash/death metal; there is not much speed involved: this is very heavy, almost doomy at times, stuff coming close to the "atrocities" of Hellhammer and early Messiah with very brutal low death metal vocals and exits from the pattern in the form of short punk/funk breaks.
Ni Sam Ne Znam Kako Sam Osnovnu Školu Završio EP, 2003 ZANDELLE (USA)
This act, who was formed by the Gothic Knights singer George Tsalikis, started with the tribute to the NWOBHM, the debut "Shadows of Reality" (not featured here), but "Twilight on Humanity" is a different story: this is potent speed/power/thrash in the best tradition of early Iced Earth, Manticora and Dark Empire. "Warlords of Steel" is a vigorous galloping opener, with the soaring vocals of Tsalikis sounding as convincing as ever, well supported by the catchy chorus. "The Champion" is an epic power metal hymn, but the battle rages on, with "A Hero's Quest" and the speed metal anthem "Lord of Thunder". "Immortal Realms" is a dark mid-paced piece, and later on, till the end, we have an laternation between the two sides, both coming together on the larger-than-life closer "Twilight of Humanity", which is more than 12-min of epic/progressive power/speed/thrashing with all gamuts and moods within.
Twilight on Humanity Full-length, 2002 Official Site ZANTHROPYA EX (GERMANY)
This young outfit pulls out competent modern thrash/death with technical/progressive tendencies. The music is energetic with a frequent change of pace, which makes the songs eventful pieces with various twists (check out the progressive saga "Sternenfeuer"; the diverse "Opeth-meets-At the Gates" deathster "Blutbad"). Short, hectic numbers ("Endzeit") work almost as well, and are placed towards the end, where the guys spare no speed, even adhering to blast-beats on the black metal-decorated closer "Dämon Meiner Selbst". The singer is a normal mid-ranged deathy semi-shouter.
Seuchenherr Full-length, 2009 ZAPLAHA (BULGARIA)
4 songs of modern post-thrash with hardcore overtones; this is heavy, but unimaginative, music which has a couple of heavier moments, but is boring and uninspired as a whole accompanied by rough shouty semi-death metal vocals.
Aggression Demo, 2004 ZAQUEO (ARGENTINA)
Based on the debut, this band pulls out modern thrash with brutal low-tuned death metal vocals. The music is close to the new American school (God Forbid, Lamb of God, Chimaira, etc.), but is more complex and more aggressive moving into the death metal fields at times. So as a whole this stuff has energy despite the few slower doom/gothic throw-ins. The guitar work is not bad relying more on melody rather than sharpness, and that's why those faster more brutal passages are more than welcome even when they rudely interrupt a more peaceful Cemetary/Sentenced-like moment.
Inquietante Extrañeza Full-length, 2005 My Space ZARATHUSTRA (GERMANY)
With an intelligent name like this (I guess you know who Zarathustra is, if not-check it out) one might expect that this would be a progressive metal band or something at least more technical. Well, the truth is that we have mostly black metal not too far from Darkthrone, but mixed with a fair amount of thrash riffs (mostly on their last work) with a slightly dragging and monotonous feeling; would be of bigger interest to black metal fans.
Dogma Antichrist Full-length, 2000 Official Site ZATARRAS VENGEANCE (AUSTRALIA)
Modern groovy thrash with less conventional guitar work offering more energetic moments ("Wasted Youth") which come with good melodic hooks.
Demo Demo, 2008 ZATMENIE (RUSSIA)
Melodic thrash mixed with more traditional heavy metal tunes; there are the obligatory for such mixtures balladic moments, but when the guys thrash, they pull out awesome heavy riffs: the 8-min monster epic thrasher "Lubov".
Hatred (Nenavist') Full-length, 2004 Official Site ZEALOUS WITNESS (CANADA)
Based on "Punishment-Pain", this band provides a cool, more aggressive version of the Forbidden debut mixed with a heavier more elaborate approach akin to late-80's Metallica. This is good well-constructed music with very good bass support and forceful attached vocals reminiscent of the early Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth (Overkill) style, maybe a bit gruffer and less melodic. The guitars crush admirably coming with the casual more technical hook. The tempo is pretty fast reaching proto-death heights for a while on "The Day That Will Never Come". The more clever arrangements work better on the slower material: the pounding jumpy creeper "The Suffering"; the diverse technical closer, with a nice speedy twist at the end, "Windows Of The Mind".
Man In An Empty Grave Demo, 1992 ZEITGEIST (UK)
Despite the relative length of the songs (some are 5-7min long, and there is one monstrous track-"Paradise Lost", which is almost 10-min long), this is nothing more than pure thrash/crossover, the way it was played by more famous representatives of the genre like D.R.I., Rumble Militia, Lawnmower Deth. There is nothing technical here, and the music is not very heavy, but delivers the goods; "Suspended Animation" is a fairly good attempt at crossing crossover with a ballad, highlighted by the excellent lead guitar. The aforementioned "Paradise Lost" offers a different deviation from the formula, this time crossing doom metal with crossover, and surprisingly, this also works well.
Mindstorm Demo, 1989 ZENITHAL (UK)
Based on "Death Race": a decent mix of modern and classic thrash metal mixing faster with slower numbers, still succeeding in keeping the tempo above the slow parametres, with the slower tracks "acquitting" themselves with brisk galloping riffs. The guys successfully avoid the groovy "traps" along the way managing to sound convincing not without the help of a few clever Swedish-styled insertions (the nice melodic tunes on "Shrink n' Grow").
Mad Shadows EP, EP 2006 My Space ZENITHAL (UK)
This new British act are a fairly interesting listen, offering on their debut more complex thrash which owes to their compatriots and peers Seventh Angel, with thought-out compositions with a dark/gothic edge, which would bring another veteran from the British scene to mind: Deathwish. It would be safe enough to label their approach as progressive thrash; the tempo is mid-paced to slower, but doom metal is just barely touched on some tracks. On the other hand we have straight passages with a clear modern groovy edge, rubbing shoulders with the exploits of Pantera and Exhorder from the early 90's, which are an acquired taste, since some fans might find them detracting from the much less immediate rest.
Mad Shadows EP EP, 2006 Official Site ZERBER (RUSSIA)
One of the lesser achievements from the prolific Russian scene, this band come up with a raw undeveloped thrash/death metal mixture which sounds much more appealing when it's fast, and these are the moments when it makes more sense, even acquiring a slight progressive edge. The problem is that this musicianship is not sustained throughout the whole album, and some parts are clumsy with a thin sound and repetitive riffs. On top of that come the gruff, low-tuned amateurish vocals. Their style is by no means without merits, and a follow-up could have honed their approach further.
Gates of the Abyss Full-Length, 1992 ZERGOTH (USA)
Energetic music which begins in an open speed metal manner with "Unlikely Force", but "Strange Stuff" is already a full-fledged thrasher, "strange stuff", with brooding crushing riffs. Apparently speed and thrash metal will alternate here since the next "Revengence" is another speed metal happiness. Then comes the cool instrumental "Wakala" which slows down again, but delivers with creepy lashing riffs. Speed metal takes over from then on, and till the end we have optimistic music with soaring melodies and catchy choruses delivered aptly by the clean mid-ranged singer. Thrash metal comes back on the excellent closing galloping instrumental "Psychological Defense" which is a sure-handed exit with technical pretensions. Although speed metal is the dominant "force" here, the energy and vigour put into the recordings will satisfy the thrash metal fan who will find the purely instrumental pieces the more appealing part.
Psychological Defense Full-length, 2010 Official Site ZERO HOUR (USA)
This is by far one of the finest progressive metal acts for the past 10 years. The guys have been playing quite heavily and hard from the very beginning, with frequent nods to thrash on every album, producing some of the most complex, intense technical moments on the whole scene. The debut, which was later re-recorded under the name "Metamorphosis" in 2003, is the band's most melodic, but by no means less impressive, work. The aggressive shredding starts on the colossal "The Towers of Avarice"- a progressive metal masterpiece, which can only be compared to the output of the mighty Watchtower ("Control & Resistance", in particular); riff after riff overwhelm you, bringing constantly changing tempos and moods to a surreal, hallucinogenic effect.
Zero Hour Full-length, 1999 Official Site ZERO OPTION (CANADA)
Melodic thrash meets power metal on this album. The music is surprisingly modern for this early stage of the decade, and is quite heavy at times, but the bad news is that thrash metal is only used sparingly, and is never of the exciting, energetic variety; comes close to the future Flotsam & Jetsam transformation during the 90's, but less original and memorable.
Gates Of Utopia Full-length, 1991 ZERO POINT (FRANCE)
Gothic thrash/death in mid-pace, with nice female vocals taking part from time to time; "Infinite Republication" breaks the "idyll" in the middle with more aggressive riffs, and "Failed Machinegun" tries to justify the "machinegun" part of its title, and actually succeeds rather than fails, speeding up quite a bit, but the rest is morose, smelling gothic/doom ("Earth Illusion", "Evolve Or Die") more than occasionally.
Prototype EP, 2009 My Space ZERO TO BALLISTIC (USA)
This band is actually only one man: Ali Sugerman. He does a fairly good job, offering progressive metal, with certain nods to thrash, not miles away from Zero Hour (see the review above). The opening "...Bring on the Pain" is a marvellous progressive thrasher, which will keep you fairly entertained within its 8-min, hitting both with force and technicality in almost equal dozes. "Epiphany in Black" is another masterpiece of technically-minded music, concentrating on the complex side, coming up with some of the most head-spinning riffs one might encounter on the contemporary metal scene. "Hope Springs Eternal" is a nice piece mixing slow atmospheric sections with more aggressive ones, ably supported by brilliant technical melodic guitars. "Indomitable" is a very eclectic avantgarde number with no ties to thrash metal, but is very enjoyable as well, maybe a bit too long (12-min). After that the album loses its edge almost completely, following the example of this "monster", coming with a couple of abstract, "out there" progressive tracks, permeated by brilliant genuine Oriental atmosphere, which even the best Middle Eastern acts could only dream of. "Nails in Your Coffin" returns to the thrashy patterns from the beginning, and is a great intense technical song, reminiscent of Mekong Delta even. "The Guns Fall Silent" is in the same vein: an aggressive thrashing piece of complex stuff, followed by the fine balladic closing "The Plains of Abaddon". Although the middle of this album might stretch the thrash metal fan's nerves a bit with the sudden and lasting exit from the more hard-hitting side of the music spectre, it is by all means a satisfying work of complex metal with enough intense moments to please the hard-boiled audience.
Idiom Full-length, 2006 Official Site ZERO TOLERANCE (FRANCE)
This act is the somewhat logical continuation of the death/thrashers Massacra, who on their last two albums have surrendered to the modern 90's tastes. Instead of frustrating their hard-core fans even further, the guys decided to change their name. The music is an almost direct follow-up to "Humanize Human", but not as consistent, and more diverse: industrialzed groovy post-thrash with heavy mechanical riffs, atmospheric non-metal elements, plodding moments, and more. One will have big problems recognizing the mighty Massacra here, but lovers of the 90's post-side of the genre will definitely be entertained.
Zero for All Full-Length, 1996 ZERO TOLERANCE (SWEDEN)
Based on the "End of Aeons" EP, this band pull out a heavier brand of the modern thrash with rough death metal vocals. The guys hammer pretty heavy, doom-laden riffs which are not very far from Mindrot, maybe a tad more melodic, except for the aggressive headbanging mechanical riffs on the closing "The Machinery". There is also a suitable quasi-industrial atmopshere floating around, thanks to the distorted, robotic guitar sound.
Prime Time Mind Surgery EP, 2006 Official Site ZERO TOLERANCE (USA)
A nice obscure demo of intense classic thrash in the spirit of the Bay-Area with a couple of more modern angry notes thrown in here and there, including one crossover joke as well ("A Thousand Deaths") at the end. The guitars are sharp with a nice semi-technical edge ("Fuel The Fire") at times, but the singer is not an asset with his gruff hardcore/punk tember.
Fuel the Fire Demo, 1991 ZERO VISION (BRAZIL)
Based on the "Ultimate Encore" demo, this band play modern thrash metal with an industrial edge, but with a strong presence of the authentic guitar sound, mostly mid-tempo, and sligtly monotonous. Expectedly groovy sections are also present ("Worms"), but they are of the more dynamic, Pantera-like type. This is actually cool stuff, especially to those who are fans of the modern industrial 90's trends.
Under Confusion Demo, 1991 ZEROED (GERMANY)
Thrash/death metal with the classic and the modern sound mixed well together; there are stomping numbers which will remind you of Bolt Thrower and Benediction, but the thrash assaults are predominant, having the aggressive Devastation/Sepultura-flavour.
Death Notes Full-length, 2002 Official Site ZEROFOUR (AUSTRIA)
Based on "The Downfall of Humanity": this band plays cool modern thrash metal with classic insertions and hoarse death-ish vocals. The music packs a punch, offering really cool headbangers: "Dishumanized Society". "Warfaith", but the slower heavy numbers are by no means less worthy: the atmospheric doomy "Where Is Your God Now?", which boasts nice Oriental hooks, and really brutal, low-tuned growls; the balladic "Zeronation", which again comes with a nice melodic guitar work, and more melodic, semi-clean vocals. The last song "The Dreadful Genocide" is a 12-min progressive opus, which begins like a gothic track with atmospheric melodic passages and female vocals, before it switches onto full-blooded intense thrash in the middle, and carries on like that for a while, giving place to the great acoustic outro. Bands from Austria are a rarity, especially those playing thrash (there is a big gothic/doom metal scene out there), but this one is more than worth checking out, providing good diverse stuff which would appeal to a wider range of metal fans.
The Desert of Reality Full-length, 2006 Official Site ZEROZONIC (SWEDEN)
This is a side project of the mastermind behind Scariot Daniel Olaisen. The style here is nothing like the technically-exuberant one of the other band; this is modern groovy post-thrash with a slight alternative twist which owes a lot to bands like Pantera, Machine Head and GZR.
Demo Demo, 2005 Official Site ZERSTÖRER (GERMANY)
This band is a side-project of the guys from the black metal act Hailstorm. The music here is not miles away from the one heard on the Hailstorm releases with a slight pinch of thrash metal thrown in, up-tempo, but never very fast or brutal. More atmosphere comes served with more laid-back pieces, like "Slaughter of Divinity", which carry the late 80's Bathory spirit. "Total Frost" is a pure Hellhammer/early Celtic Frost-worship, but make sure not to miss the following "Infernal Warfare": less than 2-min of blasting black/thrash. Certainly the black metal fans will be happier with this one, and possibly even the doom metal ones, after hearing the closing gloomy apocalyptic "Shattering Universe", which may not "shatter" the Universe, but will surely "shatter" (or ultimately depress) you.
Panzer Metal Full-length, 2002 Official Site ZHELEZNY POTOK (RUSSIA)
A noteworthy thrash metal band from Russia who, unlike the majority of the Russian bands who appeared at around the same time (Aspid, Koma, Valkyria, Mafia, Mortifer), didn't change radically their sound, or split up after just one album. Their first two releases were energetic, but not very skillful, Bay Area-influenced thrashers, maybe longer for the style, graced by cool melodic leads.
Black Force (Chernaya Sila) Full-length, 1988 ZIGOKU QUARTET (JAPAN)
Based on "Senritsu no Zigoku Yuugi", these Japanese, who include the famous vocal guru Nov (also Aion, Volcano, etc.), provide a light-hearted mix of thrash, power and speed metal, a style so well epitomized by hordes of Japanese acts (the aforementioned Aion, Volcano, Sex Machineguns, Hellhound, etc.). The antics range from all out-speedsters ("Aoi Tsuki no Shita de") with a strong thrashy edge, to forceful galloping power/thrashers ("Yomi no Yuuenchi"), to calmer proto-groovers ("Kimi no Ushiro ni Boku wa Iruyo") with a balladic shade. Nov is traditionally the star of the show with his emotional high-strung voice, but music-wise this band doesn't really offer anything which hasn't been heard before already on the works of the other bands from the trend.
Konoyo no Zigoku Monogatari Full-length, 2009 Official Site ZIDIZ (EQUADOR)
Look no further than the Swedes Cranium judging by the demo title, and you will be correct, but only half the way through; the surprises come in the form of very brutal low-tuned death metal vocals, and the husky black-ish rasps which accompany them from time to time. Otherwise the music is right as rain being the good old speed/thrash metal ala early Whiplash and Piledriver's "Stay Ugly" the latter being honoured with a cool cover of "The Fire God" of the same album. Towards the end the sound becomes very bad, and little can be enjoyed from the last 4 songs; apart from a constant guitar buzz and noisy audience (the songs are apparently recorded live) not much else can be distinguished leaving these guys to discover their full potential at some later stage.
Ecuadorian Satan Speed Metal Demo, 2009 My Space ZIMMER'S HOLE (USA)
This is thrash metal played strictly for laughs. A side project of two members from Strapping Young Lad, with the great Gene Hoglan on drums, Zimmer's Hole mix many styles on their efforts, covering almost anything you can think of from the metal spectre. Thrash is the most consistent style, but there is also death, gothic, classic heavy, doom metal: you name it. The tracks are very short, within the 1-2 min-range, with almost everyone being dedicated to a different style; could be enjoyable, if not taken too seriously.
Bound by Fire Full-length, 1997 Official Site ZIONS ABYSS (CANADA)
An interesting one-album wonder mixing doom with thrash metal: imagine early Solitude Aeturnus with a more thrashy approach to song-writing, and you'll know what Zions Abyss sound like. The concentration is more on doom; that's why some thrash metal fans might find it too slow for their taste, but this is a worthy effort from the less ordinary side of the genre.
Highway Z Single, 1986
"Vengeance Rising" is mostly speed metal, a faithful rendition of the popular sound of the 90's, not containing too many surprises for the thrash metal fans (the short technical speed/thrasher "Vengeance Rising" the sole exception). "Flames of Rage" is more aggressive, bringing back the edgier, thrashy flavour of the guitars, well expressed on the galloping "Broken Trust" and the "dark" stomper "Dark Nemesis". "Face of War" is the highlight here, an encompassing 9-min opus of technical/progressive power/thrash, a mazey multi-layered composition with interesting complex arrangements, a major riff-fest which never speeds up. The problem is that it should have been left for the end, since it easily overshadows everything which follows. The guys overdo it a bit on the gigantic closer "Eradicated Existence", which is 22-min of music, an apparent reference to the way Iced Earth used to end theit early efforts, but here one will definitely get lost, since the nuances are so many that the listener may not be sure whether he/she listens to the same song at some point; still, it remains an engaging metal symphony summing up all which was heard in the band's repertoire so far.
"Shadows of the Past" is very close in spirit to the debut containing a milder brand of power/speed metal with no traces of thrash; still this is a cool energetic release with crunchy riffs and soaring melodies, stepping the pedal harder for more speed near the end with vigorous cuts, like "The Warrior" and "Unleashed", but watch out also for some cheese (the closing "Bad Boys", and elsewhere) sneaking in. Yes, indeed: the "shadows of the past" are pretty deep here...
Vengeance Rising Full-length, 2006
Flames of Rage Full-length, 2009
Shadows of the Past Full-length, 2011
Siempre Guerras Full-length, 2009
Heroic Zarathustrian Heresy EP, 2000
Nihilistic Terror EP, 2003
Perpetual Black Force Full-length, 2003
Contempt EP, 2005
In Hora Mortis Full-length, 2006
Zatmenie (Eclipse) Full-length, 2005
Punishment-Pain Demo, 1992
Vendetta Full-length, 2008
Death Race Full-length, 2010
Vendetta Full-length, 2008
"A Fragile Mind" carries on in the same vein: another dark complex gem, with more emphasis on techno-thrash on the shorter compositions, which are smashing riff-fests seldom achieved before or after, with the melodic vocal lines providing a great desirable contrast. "Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond" increases the complexity to the point that some parts are maybe just elaborate shredding done for its own sake, but most of the time it is exemplary technical thrash, which makes more sense as separate magnificent moments, rather than as whole songs. "Dark Deceiver" could be considered the band's magnum opus, which easily beats most of the competition on the progressive/technical power/thrash metal field of recent times, including offerings from acts like Nevermore, Scariot, Communic, and Chaoswave. In 2003 the guys found time to record an album under the name Death Machine (also reviewed here), and the guitarist Jasun Tipton (whose brother- Troy, also plays in both Death Machine and Zero Hour) has two solo albums released so far.
The Towers of Avarice Full-length, 2001
Metamorphosis Full-length, 2003
A Fragile Mind Full-length, 2005
Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond Full-length, 2006
Dark Deceiver Full-length, 2008
End of Aeons EP, 2008
"Acrid Taste" is not miles away style-wise from the sound on the demo, being heavy modern 90's post-thrash with a shade of industrial, somewhere on the way from Sepultura's "Chaos AD" to Nailbomb. More up-tempo riff-monsters are present ("Daddy Gun", "Life Ends"), but speed is hardly the order of the day on this one. The end is preserved for a faithful, albeit industrialized cover version of the Black Sabbath's "Disturbing the Priest".
Ultimate Encore Split, 1994
Acrid Taste Full-length, 1994
War of Liberation Full-length, 2003
The Downfall of Humanity Full-length, 2008
Declaration Of War Full-length, 2009
"Infinite Pain" comes as a pleasant surprise, showing the band in a new light, with better musicianship displayed. "Bloody Rain" comes with smashing intense technical riffs to show that this will be a different affair. Among the stylish delivery not very convincing mellow tracks can still be found ("Don't Die"), although this is nicely compensated by the better moments. The guitars lose their technical edge here and there going into straight speed/thrashing, and the jolly joke song at the end "Beer Passion" could have been more convincing, but this effort showed the band in another better light, staying true to the classic patterns, with no hesitations towards the trends of the time.
It was interesting to see how long the guys would hold against the fashion of the day. "Calling Eternity" still sounded pretty classic for most of the time, and was even better (depending on the taste, of course): well executed technical thrash, which would remind you of Equinox, Voivod, and even a more accessible Mekong Delta. The guitar sound is thicker and heavier, but the fast sections have been reduced to a minimum, and there are two cool melodic instrumentals: one balladic with a good acoustic Latino guitar, accompanied by a sax; the other being a bit faster with nice leads, among other melodic, but interesting passages, scattered throughout the other tracks. The lack of many sharp guitars and the numerous more abstract moments might let the regular thrash metal fan down, but still more hard-hitting sections could be found. Seemingly having reached their creative peak, the band members scattered around the music field into bands with no relation to thrash.
Sign (Znamenie) Full-length, 1991
Infinite Pain (Beskonechnaya Bol') Full-length, 1993
Calling Eternity (Zovuschaya Vechnost') Full-length, 1995
Senritsu no Zigoku Yuugi Full-length, 2010
The full-length doesn't betray the approach on the demo, both because all the songs from it are featured here as well, and because the delivery is exactly the same without any deviations whatsoever: simplistic direct riffs spiced with short screaming leads, samey moderately fast tempos, unholy semi-whispered black metal vocals, and a raw underground sound quality.
El Poder Brutal Full-length, 2010
"When You Were Shouting At The Devil..." is a nice turn for the band to a more serious song-wtiring, more strongly concentrated on thrash metal than the previous efforts. "When You Were Shouting At The Devil..." is an awesome energetic, complex (compared to the guys' previous output, and not only) opener, with great tempos, nice chorus, and sharp riffage (not many relations music-wise to the Motley Crue hit). "We Rule The Fucking Land" is first-rate heads-down speed/thrash which, with its galloping guitars in the end, will remind you of "The Four Horsemen" (hello, Metallica!). "Flight Of The Knight Bat" is even more aggressive with cool grinding sections ala Strapping Young Lad and smashing heavy riffs. "1312" is thrashing madness at its best, accompanied by cool high-pitched vocal performance ala Rob Halford and Ralf Sheepers (the singer does a very good job on every track, as well the rough death metal growler, who helps him from time to time). "Devil's Mouth" ruins the impression, first because of the obnoxious intro and outro, featuring someone farting in the toilet, among other stuff, and second because of its mild 90's power metal nature, not far from Gamma Ray. "The Vowel Song" is 2-min of death/grind insanity, but is listenable and enjoyable. "Fista Corpse" is very heavy, with some of the most crushing riffage around, after which the speed returns with "Anonymous Escophagus": great speed/thrash with nice lead guitar work, and another notable display of high vocal talents. "Alright" is cool mid-paced steam-rolling thrash metal reminiscent of the Fight debut. "Hair Doesn't Grow On Steel" is laid-back, still containing a couple of hard-hitting riffs, but strictly belongs to the epic/power metal field, where it scores very high, not without the help of the singer again, and the nice soaring melodies. "What's My Name... Evil!" is a stylish closer thrashing with force with 10-ton tank-like guitars and brutal death metal growls. If the band was not taken too seriously by the metal fraternity earlier, after hearing this album few will be those who would regard them as a joke from now on.
Legion of Flames Full-length, 2001
When You Were Shouting At The Devil...We Were In League With Satan Full-length, 2008