Mantic Ritual – Executioner
Nuclear Blast Records

(3.5/5)

Nuclear Blast Records has been a label of great artists for years and there have been quite a few great debut albums that have come through the label. Mantic Ritual’s Executioner is no exception! Now, as much as I love Heavy metal and many of its sub genres, Thrash metal has never been at the top of the list and it probably never will be, but I have to give it to these guys. When first listening to the album, I heard the first track or two and thought “Great. Just another Thrash band with the same old repetitive drum beat.”, but I was proved wrong. It does start off with the obligatory Punk style drum beat, but the rest of the album progresses into a great mixture of old school Thrash influences such as Slayer, Metallica, and Megadeth with the new Thrash to create an excellent overall debut. The members I have to give the most credit to are the guitarists Dan Wetmore (also vocals) and Jeff Potts. I am a firm believer in the rhythm section of a band (being a bass player myself), but these two guys really help the experience of this album turn away from the same old same old sound of today’s Thrash, and they bring a true form of Thrash to the table. Some of the main tracks I would focus on for these guys’ shredding solos and guitar play are “Black Tar Sin” (Track 3), “Death and Destruction” (Track 4), “By the Cemetery” (Track 10), and “Next Attack” (Track 11). “By the Cemetery” is the main one of those four because the opening shred in the song and the later shredding guitar solos as well as the smooth transition into “Next Attack” where there are no holds barred to finish out the album. Overall, Executioner is a great album for any Thrash fan to have in their arsenal.

Darkane – Demonic Art
Nuclear Blast Records

(4/5)

What do you get when you take a little bit of Black metal, a pinch of Extreme metal, and a healthy portion of Thrash metal and mash it all up into one album? You get Demonic Art by Darkane! This being my first experience with Darkane, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect the first time I put this album in, but I was certainly blown away by what came blaring through my speakers. This album is so intense and extreme, I can’t believe it can be contained within it’s case! I believe this is a particularly intense album because of the way Peter Wildoer (drums/lyrics) put in personal conflicts into the lyrics and every member of Darkane was pushing the limits while firing on all cylinders. With all of the incredible musicianship and lyrics put together with the powerful vocals of Jens Broman, there is no way that Darkane can be ignored any longer by anyone in the far stretches of the Metal world. This being the band’s fifth studio album, they have a solid arsenal of music to back them up, but I believe Demonic Art is the album that will solidify Darkane as an unstoppable force. To prove this, I suggest listening to the tracks “Absolution” (Track 4), “Demonic Art” (Track 3/Title track), and “Sole Survivor” (Track 8). This is only a quarter of the album, but it shows just how powerful this band truly is. Overall, this album is a great album and is one I suggest for your Metal arsenal. With it’s mix of Metal styles, it is sure to be a strong ally to battle against any and all false Metal out there!

Sylosis – Conclusion of an Age
Nuclear Blast Records

(4/5)

Hailing from the birthplace of Heavy metal, Syolosis has risen and will show the world that the UK still has Metal flowing through its veins! Combining the methods of, more, modern Metal with the methods of old school Thrash metal, Syolosis has released their debut album Conclusion of an Age. Being called “Modern Thrash metal” by Nuclear Blast Records, this band truly does fuse the two different styles of Metal to create an unbeatable combination. Vocalist Jamie combines an excellent screaming technique with singing to fully cover every musical aspect presented by the rest of the band. With the total mixture in vocals, I would normally put this band into the “Metalcore” category, but the actual music this band puts forth quickly changes my mind. Honestly, I thought I’d heard almost everything modern Metal had to offer, but Sylosis has helped prove me wrong. Really, you just have to hear this album to understand how awesome these guys are! To get a good understanding of their musicianship and excellence, I recommend listening to any of the tracks from this album, but some specific examples include “Transcendance” (Track 4), “Conclusion of an Age” (Track 6/Title Track), “Teras” (Track 8), and “Last Remaining Light” (Track 10). Overall, this is another great Metal band that I’m excited to see where they go in the future. With two EPs and their debut album Conclusion of an Age now under their belt, there’s no stopping Sylosis from taking this world by storm!

Seregon – A Future Expired EP
Unsigned

(4/5)

Why is Seregon still unsigned!? Somebody get these guys a contract! Seregon’s new EP (or Mini CD as the band likes to call it) A Future Expired is a great two track example of how strong the “underground” Thrash metal scene is. Honestly, I think this EP is awesome. When I listen to it, I get a sense of a young Testament from England. One thing I like about these guys is the variation in the songs. It may not be quite as much as I normally like, but that’s probably because there’s only two tracks. But compared to some of today’s newer Thrash acts, these guys really rank high in my books. Like I said before, get these guys a contract! Their overall skills are great and I couldn’t ask for more togetherness in an unsigned band. As far as the EP goes, it’s difficult to decide between to the two tracks as to which one is my favorite, but if I had to choose, I’d say “Replicators” (Track 2). “Replicators” shows a good amount of the variance noted above with powerful guitar attack, excellent double bass and drum beats, and a bass line that really outdoes itself. This is a great example of pure Thrash metal! All in all, I have to say, look out for our boys in the UK. If Seregon shows any indication to how their Metal scene is, expect good things in the future. So, watch out for when this EP is available and go out and support good Thrash metal!

Testament – The Formation of Damnation
Nuclear Blast Records

(4.5/5)

The gods of Thrash are back and have struck again! Having been under the name Testament for 21 years (minus a few hiatus years), Chuck Billy and Eric Peterson have once again teamed up with most of the rest of the original members to put out their first new album since 1999’s The Gathering. Even though Testament hasn’t put out an album in almost 10 years, The Formation of Damnation was certainly worth the wait! With pounding drums being provided by Paul Bostaph (1993, 2007-present), heavy shredding guitars provided by Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick (1986-1993, 2001-present), thundering bass line provided by Greg Christian (1986-1993, 2003-present), and some of the sickest vocals to hit the Thrash scene provided by none other than Chuck Billy. Of the 11 tracks on the album, the two I would recommend most are “The Evil Has Landed” (Track 3) and “The Formation of Damnation” (Track 4/Title track). “The Evil Has Landed” stuck out to me for its lyrical content. Basically, the whole song is about the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. This song really just portrays that day and really hits you in a different way because of what happened. “The Formation of Damnation” sticks out to me more along the musical lines rather than the lyrical lines. The overall song is heavy and showcases some of Testament’s great talents (plus, the breakdown is awesome). Overall, the whole album is definitely one that will go down in the musical history books as another great piece of Thrash metal!

Cradle to Grave – Texas Medicine
Year of the Sun Records

(4/5)

Baton down the hatches and bunker down low, Cradle to Grave has put out an album that is a force to be reckoned with! With a mix of thrashing guitars, animalistic screams, and a pure adrenaline boosted motive, Texas Medicine is a great example of all the different styles of new Metal all packed into one incredible album! One thing in particular I like about this album is the fact that just about every track is different. Whether you’re getting thrown around by Thrash metal or being pounded in the face by pure aggressive Metal, CtG has risen above a lot of newer bands with their ability to provide fans with great variety. Although some parts of the album kind of start to fall into a bit of a “cookie cutter” Metal style, I think that that’s what helps bring in more fans. Overall, I like, pretty much, everything this album has to offer. As far as good tracks to check out, I suggest “From Nowhere to Nowhere” (Track 5), “I Am Nothing” (Track 6), “F**k It Up” (Track 8), and “Beheaded in Paris” (Track 11). Really, these tracks show a great mix of how this band sounds (at least on THIS album). To get the full spectrum, listen to the whole album (obviously), but I believe that the four listed above will give the gist of CtG’s sound. All in all, if you’re looking for a great, energy-blasted, Metal album, check out the second full release from Cradle to Grave, Texas Medicine!

Death Angel – Killing Season
Nuclear Blast Records

(4/5)

Grab your books and hit the classroom, Thrash is back in session! Death Angel is back and still kickin’ it old school with their newest Thrashterpiece, Killing Season! From start to finish, this 11-track album proves that Death Angel has not lost their touch and continues to bring you that classic, old school Thrash metal style. Guitarists Rob Cavestany and Ted Aguilar absolutely tear it up as drummer Andy Galeon and bassist Dennis Pepa pull up the back with their awesome skills. Heading up the attack is vocalist Mark Osegueda, who is on top of his game throughout the album while receiving back-up from Rob and Dennis! Altogether, these guys are so amazing, they leave me practically speechless! As hard as it is to choose favorites amongst the tracks, but three really caught my attention. The first two are the two opening tracks, “Lord of Hate” (track 1) and “Sonic Beatdown” (track 2). “Lord of Hate” is a great opener because it starts off nice and mellow before hitting you full force with Thrash. “Sonic Beatdown” is great because it helps provide classic example after classic example that old school Thrash will NEVER die. As for the third song, the title is “Resurrection Machine” (track 11) and it is worth every second it plays! Really, it never gets to a high velocity of Thrash, but it shows another side of the album with a slower, heavier feel that includes a more mellow sound combined with pure heaviness. Overall, Killing Season is a great album for anyone who enjoys Thrash metal, or if you’re just starting to get into it. Just remember, in 2008, Thrash is back and “Killing Season” has just begun!

Meshuggah – obZen
Nuclear Blast Records

(5/5)

One word can describe the magnitude of Meshuggah’s new album obZen, MASSIVE! In these nine tracks of pure adrenaline filled Metal, Meshuggah constantly hits you with their obscure time signatures, heavy hitting drums, and insane bass and guitar parts. Honestly, I haven’t heard much Meshuggah material other than obZen, but I am extremely impressed with how this album sounds. As mentioned before, guitarists Fredrik Thordendal and Marten Hagstrom really outdo themselves on this album with the pure heaviness of their parts with the help of bassist Dick Lövgren, whose parts are really noticeable compared to a lot of other bassists. On top of all the guitarists is drummer Tomas Haake and vocalist Jens Kidman. Tomas and Jens alike offer their amazing talents to finishing off what the other three members have already established. Altogether, this has to be one of the top five most TALENTED bands I have EVER come across! The biggest thing that puts these guys high on the list is their relentless obsession with challenging themselves with the difficulty of the time signatures they use and the pure, complete product they produce while continually performing it live! Proving the skill and ability Meshuggah has to produce some of the greatest material heard on the Metal scene today, obZen has a couple of tracks that really push themselves forward as superior, but the entire album is a true thrill ride for new and old Meshuggah fans! My personal favorite tracks from the album are “Combustion” (track 1), “Bleed” (track 3), and the title track “ObZen” (track 5). “Combustion” fits in on the list for its ability as an incredible album opener. It begins with a bit of a light guitar part just before exploding into a very Thrash metal based song structure. As for “Bleed” and “ObZen”, they top the list because of their pure heaviness and aggression. “Bleed” starts out with another Thrash-like song structure and continues it throughout the entire track, keeping you looking for a time to slow down and take a quick break. Not happening! “ObZen” takes a different approach in the beginning with a heavier, more Heavy metal style structure that you can either mosh or just groove too. As Meshuggah would have it, that Heavy metal feel remains, but it overtaken by the crazy time signature. With these tracks in mind and the guarantee that every other track on the album is also incredible, it needs to be mentioned that Meshuggah cannot really be put into just one music genre. I realize that most bands are like this, but Meshuggah REALLY hits in many different categories. Just from the tracks listed above you have Heavy metal and Thrash metal, “Pineal Gland Optics” (track 7) really helps you see the Experimental metal of the band, and there are many other Meshuggah songs that would change your initial categorization of the band. For obZen, the overall product meets the credentials for the Experimental metal genre. All in all, if you want to experience one of the most exciting albums of 2008, check out obZen by Meshuggah!

Testament – Demonic
Prosthetic Records

(4.5/5)

One word can describe Testament’s album Demonic, demonic! This album has a straight up evil sound because it was written using Testament’s natural Thrash sound mixed with influences from old school Death metal and some Black metal, which translated right into their next release, The Gathering. Overall, Demonic truly captures the influences these other Metal style had on the band through Chuck Billy’s Death metal-like growls, Eric Peterson’s guitar progressions, Derrick Ramirez’s bass lines, and Gene Hoglan’s drum parts. Eric Peterson did record both the lead and rhythm guitar parts for the album, but guitarist Glen Alvelais did make a guest appearance and also played during the subsequent tour following the release of the album. Overall, I believe this album was really a much needed “speed bump” in the path of the fast paced Testament. It definitely has its share of quick guitar riffs and double bass, but the overall feel of the album is a bit slower and heavier than most of Testament’s other material. The added Death metal groove really emphasizes the heaviness of the guitar riffs and drum parts. As far as the actual tracks go, I’d have to say my favorites are “Demonic Refusal” (track 1), “Jun-Jun” (track 4), “John Doe” (track 5), and “Hatreds Rise” (track 7). Really, any of the tracks that stuck out to me are high on the list for overall quality and material. None of the tracks on the alum are any more important that the next, but the four I mentioned above are some I prefer to listen to when I stick the album into my CD player. All in all, Demonic is a very influential album to fans of Thrash and Death metal and should be a part of every metalhead’s arsenal!

Testament – The Gathering
Prosthetic Records

(4.5/5)

If you are looking for classic Thrash metal at its absolute finest, you need The Gathering by Testament! Time and time again, Testament has proved that they are a Thrash force to be reckoned with, but my personal favorite reason is this 12-track, non-stop energy filled, masterpiece. From beginning to end, the guys from Testament keep you moving with demanding vocals from Chuck Billy, insane guitar riffs from guitarists Eric Peterson and James Murphy, powerful bass lines from bassist Steve DiGiorgio, and thundering drums from drummer Dave Lombardo. As one of the many changing line-ups of Testament, these five really put their skills together to create an amazing piece of art that is The Gathering. As a whole, the album doesn’t have a lot of room for improvement, but there are a few tracks that stood out to me as being more exceptional tracks. My personal top favorite is track 5 which is better known as “3 Days in Darkness”. To me, this track really captures the sound of what you should get when you mash Thrash and Heavy metal together. Constructed of Pantera-like guitar riffs and drums, “3 Days in Darkness” is “mortared” with the yells and almost Death metal-like growls of Chuck Billy. The second song in my list of favorites is track 7, or “Careful What You Wish For”. “Careful What You Wish For” is another song that just has an overall dominance and power to it that contains truth among lyrics. Really, it has the feel of an anthem for a rebellion or some sort of uprising! My last top song from this album is the closing track, “Hammer of the Gods”. This track is completely instrumental, giving a slow yet heavy ending to a great album. Overall, it’s a great song and the instrumental aspect helps it to stick out from the rest of the tracks. With these three tracks and the rest of the talent that went into this album, The Gathering is definitely an album for the ages!