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

1000 BOMBS (CZECH)

The debut: "Peace is dead" on this otherwise cool thrash/crossover offering which develops in a more laid-back up-tempo fashion without any speedy extremes. Some of the material comes as a more dynamic Motorhead ("Zombie Syndrome"), but the highlight seems to be the inspired galloper "Airstrike" at the end. The singer shouts in an angry passionate way with an open hardcore flair. Some of the musicians are more active with the pagan black metallers Trollech.
"Sentenced to War" is a more aggressive entry, also thanks to then newly-epitomized guttural death metal baritone by the vocalist, the music still on the bashing side ("Around the Barbed Wire Fences"), the death-oriented "Sentenced to War" leading a more deathly pack behind it, with sprightly headbangers ("Towards a Living Hell", the crossover remnant from the preceding saga "Pilsner Thrashquell") amply provided all over, with death metal taking over completely on "Revelation of the Fallen", before everything gets gets wrapped on with peace and tranquillity on the closing etude "Memoriae".

Peace Is Dead Full-Length, 2014
Sentenced to War Full-length, 2023

Official Site

1000 BONE CYLINDER (USA)

This US duo indulge in classic speed/black/thrash topped by vicious mean black metal vocals. The music is pretty ripping, the lads moshing with the odd verve of technicality (“Continue”) as well, the spastic semi-technical “Ice Cream” toning down the aggression, adding an ethereal choral presence. There’s no slouching elsewhere, though, the band moshing with the requisite amount of sophistication and melody: check out the brutal but fairly proficient shredder “Dream of Floating”, or the superb diverse odyssey “A Table in the Middle of the Room”, a thrilling multifarious ride which also adds a pinch of death metal to the proceedings. “Aporia” is a short epic/symphonic tractate, and “Pillars” is a goofy take on the doom/stoner idea with a fervent fast-paced second half. The lads are also occupied with the progressive black/thrashers Botis, and the epic folk metal squad Lor.

Bind Full-length, 2021

Official Site

1000 ODIOS (ARGENTINA)

The debut EP: thrash/death metal of the modern type with hellish female vocals which might scare even Angela Kossoff at times. Music-wise the band have a long way to go, before they reach Arch Enemy, although the guitar work isn't bad at all with numerous melodic hooks, which are the driving force, overshadowing the sharper riffs, which are actually not too many; the problem is that there is no speed, the tempo is mid-paced with slow-ish gothic passages. "Phobos" shows signs of life, but it soon gives up for the sake of the heavy stomping riffage.
The "Vol. 2" EP offers heavy doom/thrash/death of the classic type, a bit one-dimensional with quite a few melodic hooks.
The full-length is a melodic, slower affair the beautiful soulful leads leading the pack and remain the highlight on this relaxed effort which only strife at aggression are the headbanging mechanizers "Crimen y Sentencia" and "Automata".
"Placebo &Terror" is easily the band's finest hour, a crisp brisk affair with numerous delights like the technical/progressive jump-arounder "Aquel Ser Inmenso", or the dramatic doom saga "Nefasto". There isn't much speed applied again, another exception being the lively thrash/crossover piece "Santos", but levelled mid-tempo consistency of cuts like "El Ilusor" and the bouncier "Contradiccion" contain few pitfalls, not to mention the really tasteful melodic lead guitars on the latter.

1000.Odios EP, 2008
Vol. 2 EP, 2009
Te Detesto Full-Length, 2016
Placebo & Terror Full-length, 2021

My Space

1000 SCARS (UK)

Ripping retro/modern death/thrash with a more melodic string running underneath at times ("Tower of Ruin"); the singer by all means accommodates the deathly side of this blend, his venomous apocalyptic shouts making cuts like "Butchered" and "Sodomised" pure death metal joys. Elsewhere the band steam-roll with badly disguise thrashy glee ("Kill Everything"), or stomp the neighbourhood with unmitigated groovy stomps ("New Rebellion"), "Biggest Regret" attempting something stomping and covertly technical at the end.

Tower of Ruin Full-Length, 2021

Youtube

12 GAUGE OUTRAGE (IRELAND)

Based on the full-length, this act offer a more dynamic take on the good old groovy post-thrash which boasts a couple of cool vigorous cuts ("Wrath-Bleed for Us") plus more serious pieces with a more imposing power metal edge ("Pride-Deadly Sins"; the hard-hitting shredder "Greed-Drag Me to Hell"). The vocalist is a cool semi-cleaner and is the perfect match for this conceptual work based around the Seven Deadly Sins.

About Time EP, 2014
Deadly Sins Full-length, 2016

Official Site

12 TON SLEDGE (USA)

Modern groovy post-thrash (make no mistakes, folks- once you see numbers in the band bame, you have to know that this is going to be groove all over, in most cases), with a heavy, steam-rolling sound, which never speeds up a lot, seldom coming with some more choppy riffs ala Prong: "Slingin' Ink".

Nothing to Gain Full-length, 2005

Official Site

17.XII (BULGARIA)

A decent attempt at more classic-sounding thrash metal which develops on an uneven semi-technical/semi-progressive background with good bass support, but awful hysterical shouty vocals, and noisy guitars. The fast pace, which dominates at leats in the beginning, is frequently interrupted by much more quiet balladic passages, which never turn into a full-blooded composition, but are too many to make this album a more engaging listen. In the 2nd half the album loses steam completely the guys settling down for a calm power/thrashy delivery without any highlights.

Capitis Deminutio Full-length 1995

My Space

18 WHEELS OF JUSTICE (USA)

Based on "Execution", this band play dry mechanical modern thrash with dispassionate guitars and attached aggressive death metal vocals. The music changes tempos although the dominant one remains mid with sparse adherences to stoner/doom and hardcore. This would hardly be the headbanger's paradise with the exception of a couple of more intense cuts ("Idolatry"; the more brutal shredder "Apocalypse") which may remind you of mid-period Carcass with their casual twisted nature. The closer "Execution (The Sword Of Justice)" is an exemplary piece of more technical thrash/death also boasting the most melodic catchy hooks on the album on which the band should concentrate more in the future.
"Where The Shadows Lie" is a pretty decent slab of modern semi-technical thrash, the mid-paced deviations of "Pillars of Isis" nicely interlaced with the hectic up-tempo shenanigans of "Blade", the eventful progressive pretensions of both "Judgment" and "Freedom Lies" well justified, the band accumulating energetic volatile riffs on a steady heavy base.

18 Wheels of Justice EP, 2005
Deceive Them All Full-length, 2007
Execution Full-length, 2011
Where The Shadows Lie Full-length, 2020

Official Site

19 A.D.D. (USA)

This is purely instrumental stuff: good elaborate music, quite hectic in a positive way and very technical modern thrash affair, although music of so many nuances and shades is not easy to categorize as modern or classic. The riffs jump into all directions, sometimes unpredictably, never being too fast or brutal, constantly changing tempos and pace disorienting the listener quite a bit who will be actually entertained for most of the time moving through this complex landscape of moods and hooks where the bass plays a very big role touching Cynic and Atheist; the riffage is mostly dispassionate and precise with the casual melodic addition. Every instrumental piece is preceded by a short introduction based on a film/news sample or industrial/ambient noise, to these ears a not very necessary inclusion. A couple of more direct headbanging sections can also be heard, and they're very well embedded into the much harder to swallow rest. The guys' genius reaches the top towards the end, on the brilliant twisted technical thrasher "Saudade" which is relatively conventional compared to the other longer and more complex numbers. To name a soundalike would be a difficult task: a more moderate, less aggressive, Electro Quarterstaff or a more intense thrashy Canvas Solaris may come not too far, but this "animal" is truly of a less ordinary breed.

19 Minute Attention Span EP, 2003
Elements of Emptiness Full-length, 2006

Official Site

2BLACK (SWITZERLAND)

Another addition to the burgeoning classic thrash revival of recent years, this time coming form the not very prolific Swiss metal scene. These guys (and a girl, the bassist) deliver energetic roller-coaster speed/thrash which is varied without sticking to speed the whole time. The problem is that the unbridled intensity of the opening "Falling Into Black" is not very often encountered in the 1st half the band revealing the heavier epic side of their repertoire particularly reflected on the officiant proto-doomster "Desolation-Desperation" in the middle. "Guilty Angel, Innocent Devil" arrives right after to wake up the listener with brisk vigorous guitars, and a couple of cuts later retain the energy which again gets lost on the short lead-driven instrumental "Shadow" and the longer more ambitious opus "Colours of the Enemy". The singer is not a waste although his gruff semi-clean timbre could have used more emotion especially on those more epic numbers in the middle.

Mind Infect Full-Length, 2013

Official Site

2 HEADED CHANG (USA)

Based on "Deliver Us...": this band come up with pedestrian groovy thrash, occasionally graced by more melodic, Swedish style leanings ("The Inner Workings Of A Perpetual Victim"), which put more vitality into the album. The other surprise is "Bonded With Vengeance", which thrashes with intensity and sharp riffs, which overshadow the clumsy groovy section near the end.
"Dead City Rodeo" is worse offering rhythmic almost rappy post-thrash "stifled" by heavy groovy passages which are the better side of the album managing to capture some of the early Pantera intensity ("The Devil Never Goes Away"). Like in the other effort, there are a couple of more vigorous thrashers ("Fight"), but here they really have to try hard to keep the listener entertained.

Dead City Rodeo Full-length, 2003
Deliver Us... Full-length, 2007

Official Site

2 TON PREDATOR (SWEDEN)

Based on the first two albums, this band try to keep 90's groovy thrash alive, and as such manage to come up with a decent sound, which might not be as hard-hitting as early Pantera, and at times could degenerate into some stoner/doom ala Down, but fans of this style will be happy all over.

In the Shallow Waters Full-length, 1999
Boogie Full-length, 2001
Checkpoint # 4 Split, 2003
Demon Dealer Full-length, 2003
Untitled Full-length, 2005

Official Site

21ST CENTURY SIN (USA)

This band offers a heavy mostly mid-tempo thrash/death of the groovy variety, sounding quite close to mid-period Gorefest (circa "False"), including in the vocal department. "Mutations" speeds up near the end, showing the guys well able to thrash along with the best when necessary, and they should have provided a few more speedy "surprises" like these earlier. Some of the band members play similar music in Tempestuous.

21st Century Sin Full-length, 1998

Official Site

237 (USA)

Modern edgy thrash which suffers a lot from the awful synthesized declamatory vocals; otherwise the music isn't a total waste keeping a good tempo throughout, with the inclusion of a couple of vigorous headbanging numbers which contrast well with the heavy doom-laden delivery on at least half of the other tracks.

Dead Risen Full-length, 2008

23RD GRADE OF EVIL (SWITZERLAND)

The debut: a blend of modern and retro (not as much) thrash which doesn't lack the necessary amount of energy without being played on all-out speed the whole time. The band accelerates to a proto-death intensity ("Lost In The Void") at times, but overall this is laid-back stuff with hardcore and groovy touches. "Ashes To Ashes" is a surprisingly invigorating headbanger near the end, followed by the similarly-styled closer "Something Will (Get You In The End)" which unleashes another portion of fast-paced riffs topped by the subdued aggro-vocals which don't try the high registers too much, but pull out a confident detached performance.

"Bad Men Do What Good Men Dream" will overflow you with heaps of catchy infectious modern thrash rhythms which would be nothing new, even to the ear of the less trained fan, but is full of memorable hooks of the playful type which aren't devoid of more intense headbanging moments ("Lullaby For The Weak", "For Better Or Worse"). Otheriwse, this is a varied effort with a big doze of calmer numbers sustained in the predictable mid-tempo with the odd groovy flavour ("Get Out Of My Way") thrown in here and there.

What Will Remain When We Are Gone Full-length, 2009
Bad Men Do What Good Men Dream Full-length, 2012

Official Site

23 ROADKILL (USA)

This act were one of the first to jump on the still at the time meagre groovy post-thrash wagon. Their progressive bluesy/stoner take on the upcoming genre may not impress the Pantera and Machine Head fans, and their lengthy for the style compositions require a more careful listen for one to really savour those sprawling heavy riff-patterns which may also remind of the more recent Mastodon metamorphosis. "The Ledge" is a cool intense number which again preserves the quirkiness of the other material, and could have grown into something more substantial if the band had laster longer. The singer is another positive addition with his levelled meditative clean croon.

23 Roadkill Demo, 1992

26 BEERS

Good, speedy thrash/crossover with some really aggressive riffage ("27 Beers", "Nobody's Safe") and genuine technical moments ("Hit the Marc", "The Mexican Drinking Song"). The style isn't miles away from Wehrmacht and Cryptic Slaughter. This is really an intense listening experience which also provides relative "pauses" for a break: the punk joy "Dermaine (Two-Step N' Thrash)" (there's nothing thrashy here, despite the title), and the slower, melodic crossover piece "How to Make A Little Girl Cry Twice".

26 Beers Full-Length, 2007

Official Site

3.3.3. (ECUADOR)

Groovy doomy modern thrash, mid-paced to slow, with a few speedy surprises: the quite classic-sounding "Tirano", and the pure 90's power/speed metal piece "Tus Falsas Verdades".

Semana de Pecado Full-length, 2006

3000AD (NEW ZEALAND)

Modern thrash/post-thrash which hesitates between short headbanging proclivities ("Cell") and longer more elaborate walkabouts ("Who’s Watching"). The whole package comes wrapped in a noisy abrasive veneer which industrializes the environment, but still lets through a few more vigorous headbangers ("The World We Knew"). "Journeys" comes as a more entangled Rammstein, and the closing "Born Under a Black Sun" is a consistent mid-paced shredder with a couple of intricate jilts and jolts, this one largely missing the otherwise capable shouty semi-clean vocals. Some of the musicians are also active with the hardcore formation Sounds of Vengeance.

The Void Full-length, 2020

Official Site

3B ASYLUM (USA)

A 4-song EP of really good classic thrash with a genuine technical twist; "Black Monday" is all-out headbanging thrash, but "Suicide Slide" switches onto more thought-out music, providing smashing riffage and various tempos. "Eternal Rite" thrashes with full force once again, but "Kobb" comes with all the gimmicks of progressive/technical thrash: a wide gamut of time and tempo changes, all this on a very heavy base, with sudden faster outbursts, very good bass support, and a slightly annoying noisy outro.

3B Asylum EP, 2008

3 MILE SCREAM (CANADA)

Laid-back melodic metalcore-ish/thrashy music which still contains enough hard-hitting riffs to pull it through although there aren't many fast-paced surprises the guys settling for the expected vivid mid-pace only breaking it on the fierce death metal-esque "Shadowed Existence", and partially on the "eagle fly free" closer "Redefine Tomorrow". The vocal variety is really big: clean, semi-clean, shouty, semi-shouty, death metal grunts, etc. Some of the band members play more aggressive stuff with the death metal outfit The Catalyst.

A Prelude to Our Demise Full-length, 2006
A Glimpse of Hope Full-length, 2011

Official Site

308 (AUSTRALIA)

Modern thrash/death metal in a cool up-tempo with raspy black-ish vocals and sparse shades of black ("Baptised in Bullets"); the guitars carry a lot of melody as well which disappear only for the heavy epic "Lustful Ways" that will remind you of both Bifrost and mid-period Bathory.

Atomic Assault EP, 2010

My Space

32 MILDREDS (USA)

This is classic sharp thrash with Anthrax and Xentrix-esque overtones and an overall jokey tone and good clean vocals. "Thrash Song" deserves its title with its hard-hitting riffage, but after it the band take a less serious approach with crossover and even hardcore present. The sound quality is quite muddy, but apparently this short effort was wholly intended as a joke.

If She Don't Love You... Break Her Spine! Demo, 1991

38DD (USA)

Based on the EP, this act play playful modern post-thrash which borders on the rock'n roll boogies of The Almighty and Monster Magnet, the unpretentious musical barrage topped by gruff soulful, semi-clean vocals "Wiggin" bravely touching the blues to an even more soporific effect.

More Than a Handful EP, 1996
38DD Full-length, 2013

Official Site

4.6 (FINLAND)

Based on the 2-song "Turn To Dust" single, these guys offer melodic modern thrash metal in mid-pace with a lot of melodic decorations and good gruff semi-clean vocals.

Demo Demo, 2002
Silence is Your Choice Demo, 2004
No Blood, No Tears Single, 2005
Shelter EP, 2006
Turn To Dust Single, 2006

Official Site

4ARM (AUSTRALIA)

A dynamic varied take on the 90's groovy post-thrash with jumpy, but also at times speedy, guitars. Still the tempo is mostly mid with numerous melodic decorations and slower, almost doomy, passages ably supported by the soulful, albeit gruff, Phil Anselmo-like vocals.
"Submission for Liberty" is a smashing headbanging affair thrashing quite wildly (the invigorating openers "Submission for Liberty" & "Raise A Fist") even bringing some classic flavours here and there. The groove inevitably appears ("The Oppressed"), but there's so much uncontrolled thrashing here that it can't possibly stand a chance, and when it does it comes pretty dynamic and sharp. This album never drags even for a split second, also taking a nice melodic, also progressive, turn on the closing "Blood Of Martyrs" which owes a lot to the more laid-back side of The Black Album. The singer semi-shouts for most of the time, but not annoyingly, and shows his more attractive clean side on the aforementioned closer.
"Survivalist" follows the hard thrashing course and the opening "Eyes of the Slain" is a sure-handed winner with its sharp lashing riffs even recalling more recent Paradox. The saga only gets more appetizing later with energetic cuts like "Poisoned Mind" and the more complex progressive speed/thrasher "Poverty of Flesh". A few mellower moments come in the second half including on the ambitious 8.5-min closing title-track which semi-balladic escapades smell Lake of Tears and Katatonia, but not in a sugary melancholic way. The band are surely coming of age and one may expect more pleasant surprises from their camp in the future.
"Pathway to Oblivion" is a generally more dynamic and decidedly better affair than any of the band's previous instalments, the guys thrashing with more panache as evident from "Stigmata", a rowdy opening cut which is later superseded by either heavy sizzling shredders ("Born to a Dying World") or intriguing varied progressive pieces (the title-track), this last side of their arsenal also revealed on both the lashing headbanger "Headhunter" and the crunchy Bay-Areasque closer "Gutterfeeder".

The Empires of Death Full-Length, 2010
Submission for Liberty Full-length, 2012
Survivalist Full-Length, 2015
Pathway to Oblivion Full-length, 2023

Official Site

4 TO REICH (ARGENTINA)

A fairly aggressive early recording from the Argentine underground seeing true followers of early Metallica (the debut, above all) with a pinch of a more brutal play ("Triturador") akin to Slayer. So these are three songs of fast intense speed/thrash with wild riffage and not very impressive gruff shouty unrehearsed vocals. The sound quality is really bad, but can't stand on the way on the inspired galloping passages on "IV Reich".

Bienvenidos Al Infierno Demo, 1986

404 (BAHRAIN)

A project from Bahrain, a one-man show, the name Ahmed A. Alkhair, the style ripping old school Germanic thrash which is lyrically based on the biblical concept of the seven deadly sins. "Pride" is a stomping epicer, but "Envy" is a speedy roller-coaster mirrored by "Greed", a short explosive cut. "Wrath" complicates the environment a bit with a more contrived layout, but "Sloth" is a crunchy mid-pacer with dark brooding riffs. Alkhair provides a leveled mid-ranged clean timbre to assist his musical creations, doing a pretty decent job all around in putting his homeland on the metal map.

Capital Vices Full-length, 2022

Official Site

4377 (CYPRUS)

Modern 90's thrash/post-thrash which exudes quite a bit of energy ("Resist to Be Defeated", "AgadzAgadza"), the hardcore vibe only too prominent at times, but not damaging the environment irreparably in the presence of interesting melodious groovers like "Nature, Slay Us". Shades of death ("Scribble") exacerbate the setting a bit more, also suiting the shouty deathly throat behind the mike; but are sidelined by the braver more complicated strokes utilized on the closing moshing pageant "Duplicate Face".

WAR-LD Full-Length, 2024

Youtube

44 X ES (GERMANY)

Based on the EP, these lads specialize in modern post-thrash which hesitates between a more militant thrash-peppered Ministry-sque sound (the raging delight "Neon Bugs") and a more atmospheric dirgy rendition ("The Colour of Overload"). "Bend or Break" is another potent aggressor, and "U.S.S. Headfucker" is a cool more complex shredder with voice samples from the cult horror outing "It". Expect also a more light-hearted dancey tribute to early Die Krupps, and a pure industrial closer ("Concerner 030") the latter missing the harsh shouty death metal vocals.

Banish Silence EP, 1995
Voices of the Past EP, 2005

44MAG (USA)

Based on "Outlaw Psychosis", these folks offer a more abrasive, arguably thrashier version of Skid Row's 'Slave to the Grind". So expect radio-friendly sounds spiced with proto-thrash rhythms with a shade of groove plus some unexpected melodic variations (check out the crowd pleaser "50 Miles"). Things get more speedy with the roller-coasters "Mr. Rock 'n' Roll" and "D.U.I." the latter unleashing a few hard-hitting thrashy riffs their impact kind of diminished by the stoner/blueser at the end "Rock Smoker".

Past Sins Full-length, 2007
Outlaw Psychosis Full-length, 2013

Official Site

4BANNED (BRAZIL)

Intense roller-coaster retro thrash topped by a vociferous angry death metal singer; the guys entertain themselves largely with urgent fast-paced compositions (“Eternal Revenge”) and even more aggressive proto-death outrages (“Mind”). Expect a couple of less ordinary quirks on “The Psycho Priest”, but the steam-roller insistency of “Night of Sacrifice” and the headbanging fervor of “Final Judgment” simply leave no room for such benevolent developments.

Sanatorium Full-Length, 2024

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5GRS (IRAN)

Two Iranians (one of whom is a girl, the vocalist) are behind this project who specializes in melodic gothic-tinged power/thrash metal of the modern type. This is laid-back stuff in mid-tempo with good guitar work, a couple of proficient leads, and one cool doom metal opus ("The Funeral") as a finishing touch. The girl does a good job behind the mike singing in an attached emotional manner in the semi-high register recalling Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation) at times.
"Let's Crush" is a bit harder with more dynamics present, even managing to acquire nice headbanging parametres ("The Last Time") on occasion. "Winter Knocks" is a cool dark gothic thrasher with engaging melodic hooks, and "5grs's Chair" is a catchy vivid mid-pacer with sharp riffage. "He Drinks to Forget" is a fine atmospheric semi-ballad where brutal death metal vocals sneak in, but still in the second half there's enough energy to keep the boat floating: the edgy semi-technical "Paint Us Green" although the closer is just a light-hearted heavy/power metal anthem. The girl gives a pretty good performance behind the mike singing in an emotional attached manner without too many adherences to the higher registers which could have been beneficial having in mind the more intense musical delivery.
"Built on Blood" arrives after a really lengthy hiatus, but the band have returned with style to spare, the delivery now more technical with clear progressive pretensions, the latter handsomely reflected on the variegated shredder "P.Y.F.". "Naught" is the staple for the guys gothic-tinged thrasher, and "Offence" is a mitigated flirtation with the 90's groovy vogues. The guys reduce the active histrionics in the second half, relying on dreamy laid-back riffs which hit a top, or a bottom depending on the taste, on the balladic elegy "Broken Wings". The closing "Tortured" tries to revive the spirits, and admirably succeeds with a gust of lively fast-paced rhythms.

Access Denied Full-length 2008
Let's Crush Full-length 2011
Built on Blood Full-length, 2022

Official Site

5TH DAWN (USA)

Decent thrash/death metal with solid steam-roller riffs ala Beyond Belief and Bolt Thrower, but the faster thrashy sections carry a cool technical edge, although they play a secondary role to the smashing rhythm-section and the spasmodic blasts, but produce at least one ripe "fruit": the creepy proto-doomster "Godless Throne", a really worthy technicaller. "Temptation of The Damned" follows a similar path, but is more dynamic and deathy, well suited to the brutal low-tuned growling vocals.

5th Dawn Demo 2006

My Space

6TH COUNTED MURDER (ITALY)

This young formation specialize in stylish semi-technical/progressive modern thrash with not very suitable guttural death metal vocals. "Grave" is a cool impetuous galloper, but the rest is more on the calmer side with laid-back progressive rhythms overtaking the space quite often: check out the epic closer "Memories" which also serves a nice portion of more dynamic technical riffs.

6th Counted Murder Full-Length, 2013

60 SONE SATAN (NORWAY)

Chaotic but semi-stylish thrash/death of the old school, the lads thrashing vigorously on "Dimensional Shambler" before turning the tables towards more complex pummeling stuff on the dark ominous "Cross of Chains", the intimidating death metal singer also keeping the situation immersed in less safe tones. "Hypocritical Allegiance" is a more relaxed mid-pacer, but "Instinct" is pure death metal fury, the lengthy bashing saga "Flames of Armageddon" another claim at more brutal song-writing.

The Human Dogs Demo, 1991

66CRUSHER (NORWAY)

Based on the 2-song Promo: "The Game" is melodic atmospheric, progressive power/thrash metal whereas "Mindtrapped" is more aggressive riff-wise, but has the same dream-like quality, brought with the slow semi-balladic passage in the middle followed by a faster section with an excellent melodic guitar line; later some blast beats come through, but are accompanied by another great guitar hook, and are not that annoying. This is multi-layered stuff coming as a thrashier Opeth which shows big promise and it would be interesting to hear what the guys have done on the full-length.
"Truth Unmasked" is a commendable effort, fulfilling all the promises, starting with the ambitious progressive thrasher "The Eye of the Betrayer" which is a nice atmospheric piece with a rich dark sound recalling the Swedes Hexenhaus boasting nice melodic leads and deep emotional clean vocals. This song is followed by "The Game" and "Mindtrapped", already heard on the promo after which another monstrous progressive opus comes up: "Twelve Winters Strong", lasting for nearly 14-min; a diverse multi-faced composition constantly alternating dynamic technical sections with elaborate laid-back ones to quite a positive effect, never sounding stale for a split second with the leads being particularly good again. "The Disciple" is a cool semi-acoustic ballad followed by the excellent more aggressive technical/progressive power/thrasher "Unmasking The Truth" which is mostly heavy and mid-paced, but delivers the goods on all counts. The closing "The Tables Have Turned" is in a similar vein with a slightly overlong balladic mid-break where the singer pulls out fine, albeit short, performance. This album offers an entertainment beyond the boundaries of thrash metal and as such would probably find wider audience among the progressive metal fans.
"Blackest Day" would be quite a surprise to the band's fans since it has nothing to do with thrash (the only partial exception being the overflowing with melody dynamic "Diminished Mind"), but concentrates on epic, progressive song-structures with touches of doom and ballad. This is pretty dreamy stuff which on the more melancholic moments also touches Katatonia, and even more recent Anathema.
"Wanderer" is more aggressive than its predecessor and the edgy ripping riffs on the first two tracks will make one jump around with joy also enchanted by the atmospheric escapades. This effort only becomes more appealing as time goes by and here we have "A Place to Hide", another intricate shredder with echoes of mid-period Megadeth. "Founders of Time" takes more epic progressive proportions which stay around for the following "Ember" the latter a nice reminder of the band's infatuations with Opeth. "Bloodwritten" goes over the top, though, being 15.5-min of calm progressivisms without any certain direction despite the intense beginning; and when the next "The Answer" is nothing more than an 8.5-min ballad, the listener would probably switch onto something else; and this would probably be the right decision since only the closing title-track later on provides any more dynamic guitars as opposed to the fairly tranquil meditative turn the album takes in the second half. An Opeth worship is what's offered there, and it sadly ruins the more aggressive start again making this album a safe choice for the progressive metal lovers.
“Limbo” is a decent if hardly very striking affair, the band continuing with their at times dreamy, at times confrontational progressive/thrash formula, the stylish opener “Retribution” the most assuring and thrashiest composition, the remainder clinging between dreamy nostalgic balladisms (“Phantom and vigorous thrash-clad roller-coasters (“Descent”), the acoustic melancholia “Unscarred” completely unnecessary having in mind the calmer tone established before it, the closing title-track an encompassing 10.5-min opus that tries to make up for the sleeping heretofore moments with more dynamic configurations, losing the thrash idea again at some stage.

Concept of Elimination Demo, 2001
Promo Promo, 2004
Truth Unmasked Full-length, 2007
Blackest Day Full-length, 2011
Wanderer Full-Length, 2015
Limbo Full-length, 2023

My Space

66Samus (CANADA)

This is a project of Sam Paulicelli, a multi-instrumentalist who has taken part in several renowned acts through the years like Arsis, Decrepit Birth, Abigail Williams, Dark Empire, etc. In this particular case he vents his passion for the good old retro thrash/death hybrid, the delivery being direct and straight-to-the-point with short explosive numbers like "Ubasute" and "Plastic Hip" keeping the listener on the edge of his/her seat, the all-instrumental piece "Walter Vs Wilbur" offering a few deviant more technical respites. Paulicelli acquits himself with an intimidating semi-declamatory death metal baritone behind the mike, trying to sound not too scary.

Jurassic Geriatrics EP, 2018

Official Site

666 PACK (MEXICO)

Old school thrash offered in E-minor, a minimalistic speedy affair reminiscent of the Whiplash debut and Pile Driver. The guys thrash with no remorse relaxing at times with the more carefree crossover cut ("Nice Fucking Beer", the S.O.D.-worship "S.P.S.D."). The singer is semi-shouty with a more melodic for the style timbre often supported by the other musicians on the frequent shouty choruses.

Drunken Squad Demo, 2010

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666 TRIANGLE SIX OF DEATH (JAPAN)

Based on the "Why You Believe in It?" demo, this is half heavy mid-paced, and half somewhat clumsy thrash/crossover. The music isn't aggressive, and has also shades of doom, but the second half speeds up quite a bit, and the tracks there thrash admirably for a while, since all the songs here are longer than 4-min. The last two tracks are with a much worse sound quality, and have obviously been recorded at another time, and the sound on them is more aggressive, along the lines of early Messiah.

Why You Believe in It? Demo, 1987
Die If You Want To Die Demo, 1988
Attack of 4 Tribes Split album, 1988

6TH DIMENSION (BELGIUM)

This is melodic modern thrash metal with not very audible shouty vocals with a hysterical pitch; the riffs are sharp, but the sound isn't very clear and a buzzy noise accompanies the guitars for most of the time. The music resembles the one on the last couple of Lyzanxia albums offering a similar alternation between faster and slower songs.

Nikdy Nevíš Kdy... Full-length, 2010

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731 (POLAND)

Retro thrash/death metal mixing creepy semi-technical riffs with brutal proto-blasting ones. The guitars have a slight mechanized edge, and the singer is a brutal low-tuner of the comprehensive variety.

Demo Demo 2008

7TH NEMESIS (FRANCE)

Based on "Archetype of Natural Violence", these French, who have in their midst the expert guitarist Nicolas Coudert (Korum, No Return), offer an interesting combination of intense thrash/death, the closest soundalike to which would probably be later period Carcass, or Atheist, and complex progressive arrangements, which are not long, and create a lot of dynamics. Since mixtures of the kind are not common at all, these guys will strike a cord in the metal fan's heart with their adherence to strange music patterns, hectic tempo changes, heavy sharp riffs, and a frequently very technical delivery. Some exercises at progressive/technical thrash/death hit the top ("La Chair, Le Monde Et La Machine", "Divinus Afflatus", which will make your head spin with all the twists and turns inside, and the constant expert shredding), others excel in the more brutal, faster department ("Severance", which is also graced by an enchanting quiet section in the middle; the short chaotic masterpiece "Prometheus Unleashed"). This album is a great concoction of aggressive and technical metal which easily beats many of the Canadian masters of the genre, and are a proof that the French haven't said their final word in the technical metal field (check also Thalidomide, which are similar in style, but not that aggressive; and Skeleton Crew). This album is actually a re-recording of the debut with a few cosmetic renovations here and there.
"Deterministic Nonperiodic Flow" shows the guys alive and well opening quite ambitiously with the 10.5-min extravaganza "Distorted Mass" which really deserves its "distorted" title being a larger-than-life composition with so much happening that at some stage the listener may want to take a break from this wild thrash/death/dark/progressive metal saga. This overwhelming beginning has no match, but for the better, on the following "Seeding Devolution" which is straight technical thrash/death metal, a prime stylish mix of Carcass' "Heartwork" and Suffocation's "Blood Oath" with a brilliant orchestral/doomy finish. "Legacy of Supremacy" is choppy modern technical thrash with a fine atmospheric balladic stretch, and "Reverse Engineering" is a creepy moody piece with dissonant rhythms and diverse riffage which ranges from jumpy groove to twisted technicality. "The Sarcastic Maze" is a wild shredder with black metal touches and a couple of beautiful Oriental melodies. "Random Ascension" is another first-class technical thrash/deathster with a drier, more sterile edge and great leads. One more piece of the same as a finishing touch would have been great, and the guys don't disappoint producing a stellar progressive/technical opus ("Ashes of a New Era") which will delight you with its super-technical guitars with a fine Oriental shade, soaring melodic leads, some of the finest to ever grace the genre, and a few more direct thrashy passages. Despite the few stumbles along the way the guys exit this new (ad)venture with flying colours making another sure step towards the leadership on the French metal scene of recent years.

Violentia Imperatrix Mundi Full-length, 2005
Archetype of Natural Violence Full-length, 2008
Deterministic Nonperiodic Flow Full-length 2010

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72 HOURS (NEPAL)

These young Nepalese play cool retro thrash with merrier speed metal tendencies ("Headbangers", which also starts blasting at some point in the wildest possible death metal fashion) scattered around. The guys know their thrash reflected mostly in short direct fast-paced pieces ("Brute", "Battle") with cutting, albeit slightly abrasive, guitars and angry semi-shouty deathy vocals.

Kunike EP, 2007

Official Site

8 CONTROL (FRANCE)

A 3-track EP of modern groovy thrash keeping a good pace with heavy smashing riffs and harsh semi-death metal metal vocals.

You Should Have Cared EP, 2009

8 FOOT SATIVA (NEW ZEALAND)

Based on "The Shadow Masters", this act play modern melodic thrash/death which keeps to the established canons without breaking any new ground. So there are dynamic faster sections, dragging groovy ones, numerous melodic decorations, and more. The singer is the expected for the style death metal shouter adding to the derivative nature of this professionally-executed, but fairly predictable recording.

Hate Made Me Full-length, 2002
Season for Assault Full-length, 2003
Breed the Pain Full-length, 2004
Poison of Ages Full-length, 2007
The Shadow Masters Full-length, 2013

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8MM METAL BULLETS (USA)

Wow, this is quite a treat: very badly-produced grind/thrash/death metal sounding well more underground than the very early demos of the Brazilians Vulcano and Sarcofago, for instance; Napalm Death's "Scum" and Cryptic Slaughter's "Convicted" are a close reference, too, but this is a lot inferior sound-wise; very fast ultra-brutal stuff with two hardly distinguished covers near the end: Venom's "Black Metal" and Sodom's "Outbreak of Evil".

The Blood Purge Demo, 2002

8MM OVERDOSE (USA)

Hardcore-ish thrash, close to early Prong and D.R.I., but with a more modern, groovy edge; it comes with a more aggressive sound ("Criminally Insane", which isn't a Slayer cover although in terms on intensity isn't too far behind), and there's a lot of energy put into the recordings. Actually, this is the continuation of the thrash metal formation Machine who released two full-lengths earlier, and at present the guys are still active as Corrupt Absolute.

Harder Than Hardcore Full-Length, 2001

Official Site

9 DAYS DOWN (UK)

Modern thrash with a strong shade of groove sounding quite energetic at times ("Life Lost Living"). Actually, quite a few of the songs start in an intense thrashing way before they slide down to ordinary groovy post-thrash.

A Sign of Things to Come Full-length, 2007

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999 SOCIETY (USA)

Four tracks of jumpy aggro post-thrash with sudden brutal deathly explosions; not the most conventional stuff out there in the 90's, with a seismic rhythm-section which is particularly obvious on the doomy dirger "Authority", and to a lesser extent on the vivid, less predictable Prong-esque "Pain" where some stylish leads can also be heard.

999 Society Demo, 1994

9.7 RICHTER (ROMANIA)

This Romanian outfit offer (based on the full-length) decent classic power/thrash in the vein of Iced Earth and Cage. The overall approach is more on the epic officiant side the singer doing a particularly good job with an emotional dramatic blend capturing at times the higher registers with ease those moments even recalling Rob Halford himself (check out "Devastator"). "Speed (Man And Machine)" is a cool up-tempo "Painkiller"-esque number, but the rest kind of merges together with the heavy riffage and the not very eventful guitar patterns.

Epicenter EP, 2010
Ground Zero Full-length, 2014

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