Testament

Mistheria – Gemini Review

By GardensTale on December 15, 2017 in 2017, Italian Metal, Neo-Classical Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Rockshots Records, Progressive Metal, 36 comments

“If only it were that simple. Completely instrumental albums are more difficult to write, I think because we are automatically drawn to voices. Without a vocalist, the tracks must be carefully composed to guide the listener’s attention and keep a sense of structural flow and integrity. Gemini is not carefully composed. Gemini doesn’t have flow and barely any structure. Rather, Gemini is a group of very talented musicians wanking onto a biscuit and hoping you’ll eat it.” Don’t eat the buttermilked biscuits.

No Amnesty – Psychopathy Review

By Dr. Wvrm on November 17, 2017 in 2017, Reviews, Spanish Metal, Thrash Metal, Xtreem Music, Thrash Metal, 45 comments

“If you ever wanted to hear nineteen-eighty-pick-a-year aped by some little shits who never lived through Cliff Burton-‘tallica, 2017 delivered in spades. Barcelona’s young bucks No Amnesty should have been getting their braces off at 15, not hitting the stage. Now older, wiser, and still ineligible for a beer in the US, the world is their öyster.” Thrash knows no age of consent.

Silius – Hell Awakening Review

By Dr. Wvrm on September 5, 2017 in 2017, Austrian Metal, Groove Metal, Massacre Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 10 comments

“This site has no shortage of writers that enjoy a good face-peel, so thrash albums typically fly off the shelves. Add a cute little “groove/” tag to the front and suddenly you can’t move that shit for a ticket to one of Doc Grier’s famous tea parties. But not all groove is equal, as the entirely serious Silius wants us to remember.” Groove is in the heart.

Byzantine – The Cicada Tree Review

By Saunders on July 27, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Groove Metal, Metal Blade, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Groove Metal, Progressive Metal, Thrash Metal, 34 comments

“The Cicada Tree finds the DIY experts on a major label, joining the Metal Blade juggernaut, and embracing their progressive tendencies more than ever before. Hints of their prominent influences, including nods to Pantera, Testament and Meshuggah, are still present, but as usual Byzantine discover innovative ways to transcend their influences into a crackling melting pot of creativity and powerhouse hooks.” Bitten by the prog bug.

Odium – As The World Turns Black Review

By GardensTale on July 20, 2017 in 2017, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, 9 comments

“Regardless of their current status as the sad clowns of metal, no one will deny Metallica are among the biggest titans in metal history. Their first four albums are undisputed classics, their fifth a disputed one, and they have inspired countless followers with their chunky take on thrash metal. Among them is German outfit Odium, who have spent the last decade and a half pumping out records in relative anonymity.” Some other kind of monster.

Dead Asylum – Death Always Wins Review

By GardensTale on June 7, 2017 in 2017, Canadian Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Thrash Metal, 38 comments

“Strange, what albums take their time to grow. Long, complex albums are in the majority in this particular aspect of music appreciation, but it can happen just as easily with a short and simple set of songs. In the former case, it stands to reason that an 80-minute avant-garde jazz fusion progressive alternative black metal album from Kuala Lumpur will take time to digest, because there are fewer familiar elements to draw from and you keep bending your expectations to try and find the right frame of mind. But why are some easily digestible records birds of the same feather?” Birdbath and beyond.

Eruption – Cloaks of Oblivion Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on May 7, 2017 in 2017, Reviews, Slovenian Metal, Thrash Metal, Xtreem Music, Thrash Metal, 29 comments

“Two things come to mind when I see the word ‘eruption.’ One is filthy and the other is raunchy. The former isn’t for virgin eyes and the latter? Van Halen. Guess which one the Slovenian outfit Eruption fits in. Neither. Sorry pervs and, well… pervs. Instead, Eruption fit under a third, yet unlisted category: thrash metal. Yep, I said ‘Slovenian’ and ‘thrash’ in the same sentence. That combination alone should pique some interest for these worshipers of the old and true.” Slovenian speed and perversion.

Harlott – Extinction Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on April 6, 2017 in 2017, Australian Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 27 comments

“Twenty-seventeen is turning out to be the year of thrash. On top of Kreator and Overkill, there’re new releases from Havok, Warbringer, Power Trip and, later this year, War Curse and Reign of Fury. In between all that, we also get a contribution from Australia’s own Harlott.” Thrash now comes with an extra “T” for added toughness.

Interview with Dan Gargiulo of Revocation

By Mark Z. on April 6, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Blog Posts, Interviews, 35 comments

“Between pillaging, plundering, and getting insanely hammered, Mark Z. interview’s Revocation’s Dan Gargiulo.” The first of several plunder publications from this year’s 70,000 Tons of Metal excursion.

Havok – Conformicide Review

By Dr. Wvrm on March 17, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Century Media, Reviews, Thrash Metal, 73 comments

“I’ve had March 10th circled on my calendar for a while now. Since 2011s Time Is Up, I’ve adored Denver rethrash act Havok. Follow-up Unnatural Selection failed to live up to expectations, but I’m still playing Mr. Conductor on this episode of Thomas the Hype Engine.” Trains, pains and double reviews.