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 B.A.R.F. (CANADA)
Based on the demos, this band plays raw aggressive thrash/crossover not too far from The Accused, but with a more punk-ish attitude. The music on
"Tumulte" takes a slightly more aggressive edge even treading into death metal waters on quite a few times, but the punk-ish atmosphere still remains
("Mouton Noir", "Intoxicate") despite the presence of more vicious and brutal vocals.
Social Disorder Demo, 1986 Official Site B.B.R. (CZECH)
Based on the debut, this outfit specialize in messy, not very coherent modern post-thrash sustained in mid-pace which never changes even for a split
second producing boring groovy passages to no end the only shift being the nice calm closing ballad "Konec Krysace". The singer rends his lungs in
an attached semi-shouty manner and manages to elicit some memorable melodic lines.
Pro Prachy Full-length, 1996 Official Site B.D.S. (MEXICO)
Based on the 2011 demo, this act indulge in raw bashing thrash on a semi-amateurish level assited by a very noisy background and expressive shouty death metal vocals which are seldom intercepted by more emotional clean ones ("Teethmarks"). The buzz from the guitars is so loud that it taes away all the joy which is served both in a fast and slow pace the latter touching the 80's American scene ("Teethmarks" again) a bit.
Beer Hate Blood Demo, 2006 My Space B.E.E.R. (MEXICO)
This is quite cool classic thrash which has not much to do with the happy-go-lucky tangents of Tankard... so apart from the name there are no
beer connotations to be savoured here, the band thrashing with conviction and professionalism, with both complex and vitriolic sections
are thrown at the listener, the latter a bit pulled back by the gruff death metal vocals. The ambitious progressive clout of "Nekromantik"
is welcome for sure, but watch out for the frivolous thrash/crossover expletives on Party B.E.E.R.", and the more technical vehemence
emitted by "Thrashing The Christ", the short ripping "Beer Everywhere Everyday Ruthlessly" another party stirrer with its sharp polished riffs.
Blinded by Evil Full-length, 2021 Official Site B.O.T.
Thrashy hardcore with a very bad sound quality and surprisingly cool leads; the songs are very short (1-1.5min), and some are just instrumental variations including the opening 2-min from Diamond Head's "Am I Evil"- yeah, that same one which Metallica covered two years earlier, and one noisy bass instrumental as a finishing touch.
Faster Thrashing Speed Demo, 1986 B&R (USA)
Thrash/crossover with a rough sound and intriguing semi-clean Dave Mustaine-like vocals; this is mostly mid-tempo music with jolly riffs which sounds more interesting when it tries to break the pattern a bit (the nice semi-ballad "Younger Years"; the more energtic early Megadeth-esque "Keep The Faith").
Keep the faith Demo, 1990 B-RUDE (ITALY)
Heavy stomping thrash which comes with a pristine sound quality; the tempos vary the whole although this isn't overtly technical stuff, but the several crossover developmets are perfectly legitimate recalling acts like Leeway and Ludichrist. The singer is a hardcore-ish semi-shouter who tries to sound more attached at times, helped by his comrades on the choruses.
Demo Demo, 1989 BAAL (GERMANY)
Based on "Confusion of Tongues": modern thrash/death, quite fast and furious, but having a genuine technical edge which makes it stand out from the rest of the pack. The guys have the knack to combine raging thrashy riffs with nice melodies ("(Heads Deep in the Ass of the) Red Dragon"). Some tracks are a nice take on the Bolt Thrower war metal style ("Vespertine Absurdity", "Pile Of Debris", with a more technical twist), but there are some which are your average Swedish death metal ("Endeavor Bafflegab"). Often do the guys thrash without mercy ("Pink Tank Fantasies"- this is probably the next stage after the pink elephants... I guess?; "Blackwater Crusade"), and these are the times when the music really takes off. Certainly, a release like that can not pass without pure death metal pieces, but this is where the technicality shows more clearly: "The Throne of Nimrod", although the ultra-fast parts might
make you faint. The closing appropriately-titled "Exodus" is a more melodic gothic thrash/death metal instrumental adding more to the diverse interesting nature of this album.
The Lilith Complex Full-length, 2004 Official Site BAALSHAMIN (SWITZERLAND)
These Swiss satanists specialize in merry-go-round black/proto-thrash which hesitates between raw dark depressers ("Ancient Battlefield") with genuine atmosphere created by haunting keyboard landscapes, and primal direct old school creepers ("F.O.A.D.") in the vein of early Bathory and Khold. The sound qiality is appropriately raw imitating the old canons, and the singer husks and rasps his way in a more guttural manner, but is often interrupted by cleaner chants and tirades the latter further enhancing the eerie feel this album has in abundance.
Fuck The New World Order Full-Length, 2012 BABILOS (USA)
3 songs of good retro thrash with meaty semi-technical riffs not far from early Testament, similarity also in the lead department where the guy doesn't hide his infatuation with the more complex elaborate style of Alex Scholnick. "Trapped In The Pit" is mostly instrumental, brisk up-tempo shred with the vocals hitting near the end, but hardly leaving the most positive impression with their gruff semi-death metal blend. "Till Death Do We Thrash" is another no-brainer for the headbangers with sharp lashing riffs taking turns with proficient piercing technical/melodic leads. "Declaration Of Cruelty" is a heavy stomper which, despite the considerable
loss of speed, delivers with steam-rolling guitars and again, with very cool lead guitar work, this time of the more screaming chaotic type. The sound quality is crystal clear, and those three tracks can be very well implemented into a prospective full-length, and even serve as the base for it.
Demo Demo, 2010 BABOON RISING (USA)
A trio of inspired and very prolific musicians who as of now have whole 18 (!) full-lengths released. The album reviewed here features very diverse, progressive blend of power, thrash and a bit of death metal. The eclectic nature of the opener "Toilet Seat Thief" will delight fans of the less conventional who will have plenty to savour later on as well: from the brutal deathy leanings on "South Sentinel Island" and "Magnetic Personality", to the more technical speed/thrashy escapades on "Carrots", to the semi-balladic progressivisms on "Mesmerizing Molten Metal" and "Forget to Remember"; there's a lot of music to headbang to although to these ears the frequent death metal aggression kind of doesn't work consistently the whole time. Regardless, witthout the latter "American Pharaoh" wouldn't have been the widely entertaining death/thrashing roller-coaster, and the closing "The Eye Thread" wouldn't have been the impressive dramatic pounder which closes the album with aplomb. It may be a bit hard to imagine how the guys would have been able to retain the high musicianship on each of the preceding albums, but who knows... you may be staring at the metal scene's best kept secret of the new millennium.
This Composition Full-Length, 2015 Official Site BACALOU (USA)
The EP: this formation specialize in cool retro thrash/death which produces some formidable pieces: the dramatic shredder "Eyes of Rah", the galloping
progressiver "In Dust We Trust", among other pleasantries which show an act who know their craft and are ready to strike further on a wider scale. The
leads are not very clearly heard, though, and the singer could have come with more passion: his indifferent semi-clean antics with a touch of death
metal lack the dramatism which the music has aplenty.
Bacalou EP, 2011 Official Site BACCHUS (USA)
Based on the third demo, this band varies things quite well, always staying within the confines of thrash metal. "Hatchet Man" is a cool aggressive Slayer-esque number; "Mein Kampf" is a jolly thrash/crossover piece recalling Ludichrist and Leeway; "Reanimator" is a Bay Area-influenced thrasher ala Vio-lence. The rest is fast and energetic, with cool sharp guitars and excellent vocals courtesy of Manuel Lopez: a former singer of the early technical thrashers Ulysses Siren.
Demo 1 "Enraged" Demo, 1987 BACK FROM ASHES (USA)
Modern thrash sounding close to Geezer's "Black Science" and Grip Inc.'s "Solidify"; edgy heavy riffs of a more ordinary nature will one hear here, mostly in mid-tempo with a pinch of alternative. The music becomes too melodic and bland near the end, but suits better the good clean vocals.
Broken Full-Length, 2007 BACK IN PAIN (FRANCE)
This is modern metalcore-ish death/thrash with harsh shouty, death metal vocals. Melodic and more aggressive riffs alternate reaching more technical heights ("Children Of Existence") on occasion, but for most of the time this is the expected rehashed material heard hundreds of times before.
Dark Preacher Full-Length, 2016 BACKBONE (GREECE)
After near 3-min lost in industrial noises ("Entanglement") as an introduction, this band move on with uneventful modern 90's post-thrash,
tedious one-dimensional stuff which stays on the border of industrial, recalling Skrew's "Angel Seed", the harsh shouty vocals also siding with
the Americans. "Iconoclast" offers some entangled complexity, but this is too lethargically executed to make even the 90's music fans overtly
excited.
Vertex EP, 2022 Youtube BACKDAWN (FRANCE)
Based on the full-length debut, this act serve modern 90's post-thrash with crunchy riffs, overshouty deathy vocals, and a few more intense moments where some post-death metal can be heard ( Blood Stained Banner; the Fear Factory reminder Only Hate Remains). Take This thrashes in a cool sterile manner also graced by a short balladic interlude. Its energy gets transferred on the following title-track which also lashes wildly, before "Veins Of Doom" justifies its title with a heavy portion of dirgy doom with a surprising faster twist at the end. More abstract histrionics await you on the remaining 2 cuts which give a more audible industrial vibe to the proceedings.
Backdawn EP, 2012 Official Site BACKHOE BUTCHERY (USA)
Based on "Once Upon A Thrasher's Dream", this band plays heavy doomy thrash which livens up with a few intense death metal passages, but the crushing steam-roller riffs are all over the place. "I Am A Pirate" comes in the middle to offer some relief with jollier crossover rhythms and a good melody, and the closer "Land Of No Change" is also faster and more uplifting ending in a chaotic grindy fashion, but the very brutal death metal grunts mar them quite a bit. Some band members also take part in the death metal outfit Apnea.
Once Upon A Thrasher's Dream Full-length, 2001 My Space BACKLASH (ITALY)
This is a modern soft mix of power and post-thrash with mid-ranged semi-clean vocals which relies too much on the ballad to impress, and consequently ends up nowhere although the closing cover of Motorhead's... that's right, kind of saves this pedestrian affair from sinking completely. Some of the band members are now with the heavy metal purveyors Vicolo Inferno.
Guardati Intorno Demo, 1997 BACKLASH (USA)
Energetic vivid retro power/thrash unleashed by these Yankees who still take prisoners thanks to mellower excursions like "Call of the Void",
the melodic elbellishments on "God of Destruction" a really cool digression, soaring above the banal boring proto-grooves on "Owed Nothing".
Nothing over the top on "Over the Top", just speedy crushing guitars, the latter mixed with heavier pounding rhythms on the variegated closer
"Lenity", a contrasting but interesting saga, also epitomizing the good attached semi-clean/semi-shouty vocals quite well.
Colossus Full-length, 2021 Official Site BACKMASK (USA)
Modern thrash/death metal with technical tendencies, but not enough to make it really stand out; the riffs are crunchy and heavy, and the overall style could be described as a more technical Pantera mixed with Gothenburg-styled melodies and very cool leads. "Prisoner of Mind" is a good attempt at atmospheric progressive metal ala Opeth.
Dark Fiber Full-length, 2006 Official Site BACKSBING BASTARD (FINLAND)
Based on the 2-song "Shipwrecked" demo, this band plays modern melodic thrash metal of the dark emotional variety. This is laid-back music in mid-pace with very good mid-ranged melodic vocals.
Demo Demo, 2006
"Region Sauvage" is a decidedly more aggressive offering than earlier recordings, but also expect merry crossover jump-arounds ("Comme Chartrand"),
dramatic mid-paced stomps ("Dans le Rouge de tes Yeux"), and pure hard'n heavy vaudevilles ("Quebec Rock") the joy instilled also tolerating
a couple of more brutal but also fairly stylish hardcore outbirsts (the closing "Terricide").
Blasting All Rotten Fuckers Demo, 1990
Tumulte Full-length, 1992
Ignorance Chaos Suicide Full-length, 1993
Surprise... Full-length, 1995
Catharsis Full-length, 1998
Brule Consume Torture Full-length, 2014
Mantra Full-length, 2018
Region Sauvage Full-length, 2022
"Predvoj Smrti" is a more energetic and a more concise affair the band still staying within the post-thrash confines, but sounding more confident and overall angrier also reflected in the more aggressive, now clearly death metal-inclined, vocal delivery. Nice catchy melodies are also present to make this album a much more attractive listen than any of the band's previous recordings and draw a line to be followed on future efforts.
Bod Zlomu Full-length, 2002
Hyenizmus Full-length, 2004
Predvoj Smrti Full-length, 2007
Demo Demo, 2011
Confusion of Tongues Full-length, 2008
The full-length follows the same path, and produces vivid lively retro thrashing rhythms, death metal (the short splitting "Shifting Terror")
not that widely covered this time around, the approach mellower with a few power/thrash moments ("Hand of War", "Gorillaclops") also roaming around,
the more stylish technical motifs unleashed on "Eyes of Ra" sure winners, the more relaxed thrash/crossover veneer of the closer "Shock Therapy"
a fitting merry epitaph to a cool diverse effort.
Bacalou Full-length, 2021
Demo 2 Demo, 1987
Demo 3 Demo, 1989
Demo 4 "Live and Learn" Demo, 1990
"I Shall Burn Your Empire" follows the same path unerringly the delivery perhaps a bit more diverse with a progressive pinch ("I Shall Burn Your Empire") also reflected in a few cleaner vocal inclusions which work suprisingly well. The lack of speed may be a detriment to some and lasting through the longer compositions in the middle may be a burden to the less patient. The dynamics increases in the 2nd half, and "Surrounded By Fire" is a cool intense headbanger sadly cancelled by the remaining semi-balladic cuts.
Through Extermination Full-length, 2013
I Shall Burn Your Empire Full-Length, 2016
Prolonging The Misery Full-length, 2004
Mailbox Full Of Mouse-Traps Full-length, 2007
"Reflections" is another three tracks of the same radio-friendly modern thrash with the casual shade of death metal which brings them close to the their compatriots Gandalf, and even H.I.M. ("Reflections"), the main difference coming from the frequent participation of rough low-tuned death metal vocals. The approach is pretty emotional with a lush use of keyboards, and possibly with a full-length the guys might be able to make more heads turn since there's always a market for this kind of music, especially in the Scandinavia.
The Premonition: New Era Demo, 2007
Of Thieves and Beggars Demo, 2008
Shipwrecked Demo, 2010
Reflections Demo, 2011