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 CH-B (UK)
The debut of this UK outfit presents modern progressively-tinged thrash which is quite eventful with both jumpy and speedy
moments intercepting each other the very brutal hyper-blasting ones serving to no purpose since the major approach is too far from
them, and sounds closer to the alternative and post-thrashy sections "roaming" around. "Solitary" is a healthy aggressive shredder, but the rest is not very easy to swallow with numerous nuances thrown in coming as a bit too much sometimes for the regular metal fan. The singer is a semi-shouty death metal throat who sounds comprehensive and even attached with a sparse participation of clean alternative insertions which are less striking.
Dependence: Two Faced Full-Length, 2010 CHA-M (AUSTRIA)
This is choppy modern thrash which aptly avoids the groovy traps set by 90's vogues, and manages to come up with something not too far from Flotsam & Jetsam's "Quatro", maybe a tad more classic-sounding (the playful speedster "Carry On"). There are a couple of missteps, like the boring ballad "Not Worth a Dime", or the one-dimensional pounder "Eternal Flame", but the wide diversity served later (hardcore, funkisms, the cool progressiver "Something in Between") will ensure the listener's entertainment.
Trappedinsanity Full-Length, 1995 CHACINA (BRAZIL)
This is old school thrash/crossover that lashes hard with “Insignias” before “A Chave” trots on the side with meeker power metal-ish rhythms. “Lagoa Negra” energizes the environment with a more fever-ish speed metal layout, but “Cesario Motta” is the real violator here, a definitive moshing marvel which is admirable supported by the short abrasive rager “Gaza”. The singer is a throaty intimidating semi-reciter whose tirades are overall legible. Some of the musicians are also active with the heavy/power metal outfit Megadriver, and the power/thrashers Cellmys.
Gaza EP, 2015 Official Site CHAIN HOME (NORWAY)
A modern brand of power/proto-thrash which comes more complex and entangled on the longer material which arrives after two relatively simplistic shredders, but the overuse of balladic/semi-balladic nuances on those kind of diminishes their impact with only the title-track livening the situation a bit with a portion of more dynamic riffage which partially gets lost.. sorry, translated on the short immediate "Lost". The vocalist does a decent job trying to stick to James Hetfield's hoarse semi-clean croons although this particular style doesn't always fit the prevalent mellow nature of the music.
Instincts Full-Length, 2018 CHAIN REACTION (POLAND)
Based on the "id" demo, these guys offer ordinary modern post-thrash metal mixing groove with faster riffs which seldom leave the mid-paced parameters ("Manipulacja"). "Cuatro" is a good instrumental blending balladic elements with more melodic groovy ones.
Demo Demo, 2004 Official Site CHAINBOUND (USA)
Dirgy groovy post-thrash which borders on doom on at least half the tracks (the title-track) to a pretty positive effect. An approach of the kind can't possibly generate too much excitement and this one here may wear thin near the middle die to the never-changing pace and the torturous, agonizing death metal vocals which at least could have softened down on the cover version of the Animals evergreen "House of the Rising Sun", a horrible rendition, needless to say, obviously played for laughs as well as most of the album.
Chainbound Full-Length, 2015 Official Site CHAINBREAKER (AUSTRIA)
Based on "Relentless Night", this act provide blistering energetic retro speed/thrash with a few blacky leanings ("Vile Hounds"), the raven-like vocals also clinging towards that direction. The guys seemingly have a lot of fun shooting short exploding headbangers ("Iron Grave", the early Destruction-sque title-track), but they don't forget about spicing their repertoire with the odd more serious proposition (the academic mid-tempo stomper "A Prayer Down the Drain"), also adding a few tasty melodic licks on "The Axe" and "S.M.P.@.
Awakening of Evil EP, 2016 Official Site CHAINBREAKER (CANADA)
The full-length: luminaries from the Canadian underground (Rammer, Cauldron, Thor, etc.) have gotten together to pay tribute to early Bathory and the simplistic barrage of Toxic Holocaust (some of the band members have had stints with this act, too). Expect one-dimensional up-tempo music which resembles early Venom as well ("Get Yer Feed", "Methalina") on the slower material, with the shadow of Motorhead felt on the catchy roller-coaster "Hellbound", the shouty semi-clean vocals decidedly emitting more passion than our beloved late Lemmy.
Constant Graving EP, 2014 Official Site CHAINED MESSIAH (HOLLAND)
Based on the full-length, this band play intense old school thrash wirh sharp cutting guitars, the uncompromising assault relieved by nice melodic leads and interesting semi-technical decisions ("Puppet Queen"). "I Fucked Up" is a surprising moody brooding mid-pacer giving the versatile vocalist a chance to display his more lyrical side as elsewhere he switches from leveled semi-clean croons to brutal deathly semi-shouts the whole time. Some of the band members can also be seen in the black/death metal hybriders Tragacanth.
To Those We Hate EP, 2010 Official Site CHAINED MIND (COLOMBIA)
This is dark heavy power/thrash which is built around stomping seismic rhythms the guys feeling more comfortable with depressing sinister cuts like "Night" and "Lies" the latter pretty strong on poignant melodic tunes as well. The second half loses the thrash and goes into post-thrash territories the short speedy "Insomnia" providing the rude awakening, the vocals not doing much being semi-declamatory and drunkenly hoarse.
The New World Order Full-length, 2020 Official Site CHAINFIST (DENMARK)
Modern post-thrash mixed with heavy/power metal; this is mostly mid-tempo stuff with good mid-leveled vocals and melodic
guitars. There is a dark gothic vibe going through the album recalling the Finnish scene (To Die For, Razorback, etc.), but there
are a couple of more intense surprises, too: the speedy roller-coaster "Stay". Still, the majority of the songs are peaceful
"idylls" becoming too melancholic and moody near the end for the thrash metal fan's taste.
Black Out Sunday Full-length, 2010 Official Site CHAINFLESH (FINLAND)
This is groovy post-thrash which could be expected considering the time of release. The approach is clumsy and repetitive the guys trying to spice their stale delivery with a couple of melodic melo-death insertions, but the resultant "therapy" only makes things sound more awkward. The singer is a tolerable shouty death metaller who even tries to sing at times to a bit forced impression. "Blind Twisted Eyes" at the end completely steals the show with the more lyrical motifs and the excellent melodic lead section.
Down... Demo, 1995 CHAINS OF MISERY (GERMANY)
Based on the self-titled demo, this act play acceptable if not very focused modern/classic power/thrash conglomerate, the balladic allusions of "Surprise of Live" well supported by an array of proficient melodic leads. "Dreammaster" is a passable mid-paced trot, and "This Hell" bravely flirts with the realms of doom, think jarring Confessor-esque layouts, coming up with the most convincing performance by everyone involved, save for the not very striking hoarse hardcore vocals.
Chains of Misery Demo, 1993 Youtube CHAINS OF SUFFERING (CROATIA)
Three lads shred with some skill here for the production of this cool progressive thrash opus which is finely summed up on "Chains of Suffering" where a wide array of rhythms and melodies provides the palette on which this album is built. "Only Choice" deviates from the norm into a more pounding stomping delivery, but "Blood Cry" is a rousing speed metal anthem, and "Victims of War" is a death/thrashing brutalizer. The vocals are of the shouty semi-death metal variety.
Seed of Suffering Full-length, 2017 Youtube CHAINSAW (GERMANY)
Based on the second demo, this band deliver intense energetic speed/thrash, a good reminder of the Angel Dust, Warrant, and Iron
Angel debuts. The guys are equally capable pulling long elaborate ("Lambs To The Slaughter") numbers and short raging ("Thrashmare") cuts. "Bury God! (Der Berg Ruft)" is another prime shredder with rousing guitars, and the final "Reinheitsgebot" is a more immediate headbanger seeing a band who looked well equipped to race with the finest in their homeland, including the "holy three". Alas, they reduced the brutality later and went towards mellower power/speed metal territories on their full-length debut.
Chainsaw Demo, 1985 Vibrations of Doom CHAINSAW (GREECE)
Based on the sophomore, this act, whose line-up comprises the drum authority Vagelis Felonis (Overcast, Iniquity, etc.), specialize in intense death-laced classic thrash with echoes of Rigor Mortis, the German Holy Three, and Possessed. This is quite vehement no-bars-held music the band venomously spitting a bullet after bullet ("The Slasher"), seldom "courting" the purer speed metal movement ("Iron Casket", the Motorhead-ish frolicer "Filthy Blasphemy") the mood aggravated by the forceful semi-shouty death metal vocalist.
Hill of Crosses Full-length, 2014 Official Site CHAINSAW (HOLLAND)
A good new band who manage to combine old school speed, thrash and classic heavy metal in an enjoyable old-fashioned way. "Master of Fate" is an awesome aggressive thrash opener, promising many headbanging moments, and if the rest of the songs were in the same vein, these guys could have jumped straight on top of the scene in their native land. But later on the music softens down, but preserves its appeal if not even increasing it: the mighty Oriental power/thrasher "The Butcher of Baghdad", the nice mixture of speed and heaviness, including even a short blast-beat section, "Burned Alive", the nod to the 80's American power metal scene "Never Surrender". At least half of the songs carry the intense spirit of the opener, but fillers, like the modern-sounding "Route 666", or the rock-ish "She Just Wants To Get Laid", could be spared for the future.
Smell the Saw Full-length, 2004 Official Site CHAINSAW CARNAGE (USA)
Based on the "Satan Plays Speed Metal" split with the Japanese Abigail, these guys play raw amateurish brutal black/thrash/death metal with low-tuned guttural vocals. This is a mix of slow and very fast sections with very simplistic guitar work with a thin sound. The band was formed after another one, Markhor, split-up; reportedly the music of the other act was in a similar vein.
Atomik Invatedon Split, 2008 Official Site CHAINSAW KILLER (COLOMBIA)
Based on the "Metal Addicted" demo, these guys pull out black/thrash metal similar to the Italians Vexed or the Swedes Suicidal
Winds: fast and intense with occasional blast-beats. The singer uses the black-ish rasp most of the time, but quite often he tries
to scream in a Rob Halford (remember "Painkiller"), or John Cyriis fashion which doesn't quite suit the music, but is a cool touch, especially on the more speed/thrash-based number "Metal Addicted".
Alcoholic Rehearsal Demo, 2004 Official Site CHAINSAW WOUND (AUSTRIA)
Three tracks of routine classic thrash which can be both brisk and semi-technical ("Pike Strike") and dark and doom-laden ("Suffocate"). The
vocalist is a gruff hardcore shouter but somehow fits the variegated soundscapes which on "Left to Rot" are woven of several currents, the intended complexity not really achieved due to the song's short duration.
Triple Homicide EP, 2021 Official Site CHAINSNAP (HOLLAND)
This album owes a lot to mid-period Machine Head (the albums after "The More Things Change..."); this is heavy groovy, but also
quite generic music which very seldom speeds up to up-tempo, and for that reason could be tiring to some as there is no variety at
all. The hardcore vocals are sometimes spiced with clean ones, and samples from the TV (or the radio) are also added.
The sophomore effort is an even more elaborate affair with longer songs, but also with drier more sterile riffage which recalls
Meshuggah and Gojira on the more inspired moments. Still, the album isn't completely deprived of faster headbanging sections which come aplenty on the encompassing closer "Snow Angels" which is more than 9-min of dynamic eventful thrash with melodic decorations
among the faster-paced patterns and the overlong dreamy semi-acoustic interlude which takes more space that what is required for
digressions of the type.
Independence: Reappraisal Full-Length, 2012
Mortus Operandi Full-length, 2019
Lagoa Negra Full-Length, 2023
"Cutthroat Melodies" is a further elaboration on the music heard previously with the same alternation between faster and slower
moments this time adding cool melodic leads to the proceedings which suit better the more energetic material.
"Revolving Floor" offers slightly more aggressive music with even some classic leanings ("Inspektor Lowe") present although the groovy implements haven't been forgotten completely and spring up on at least half of the tracks as well as the melodic licks which overtake whole songs more than just occasionally. The singer is a good companion to the mellow riffs with his warm deep clean voice who unleashes more brutal hellish shouts more or less appropriately. In the second half the music loses the little edge it had in the beginning introducing the odd metalcore element into the already very melodic amalgam.
id Demo, 2006
Vicious Circle Full-length, 2007
Cutthroat Melodies Full-length, 2009
Revolving Floor Full-Length, 2013
Wasteland City Full-length, 2018
Relentless Night Full-Length, 2020
Lethal Desire Full-length, 2019
No Saviour Full-length, 2018
"Scarred" is more intense and heavier its steam-roller aesthetics firmly stated with the squashing opener "Scars of Time". Later on more moderate modern thrashers grace the "landscape" recalling the German "heroes" Perzonal War and Face Down Hero as well as "winks" at The Black Album: "10 000". "Statement" is another "statement" of intent with its fast cutting guitars, but rest assured that there are enough tender balladic moments to alleviate "the pain" (the acoustic version of "Black Rebel Noise" which at least introduces very good clean vocals).
Scarred Full-Length, 2014
Sound of Falling Demo, 1994
Joe Demo, 1995
"Permanent Menace" consists of old material including the afore-reviewed demo, and delivers the goods every bit of the way. It
starts in the best possible way with the speed/thrash hymn "Selecting The Scum" which will do a lot to clear "the scum" around the
world with its raging bashing guitars. The massacre continues, first with the crunchy semi-technical "Apparent Death", then with the speedy explosion "Inhuman", a catchy roller-coaster at its most infectious. The comes "Thrashmare" from the demo, followed by a cut form the debut demo called "Running Fire" which is another fast-paced "bomb". "Behind Shuttered Doors" is a prime speed/thrasher which could be a highlight even on "Into the Dark Past", "Raging Steel", and "Possessed by Fire", also containing some addictive technical licks. Follow more songs from the demo years, before "Kill The Unblessed" shoots you at close range with the next slab of razor-sharp aggressive riffs, a steam-roller with a fine speedy passage. "Pox'N'Plague" is a jumpy semi-technicaller with cool melodies in the lead sector, before a bursting speedy exit wraps it up with force. "Reinheitsgebot" from the demo again closes the album, making it one of the most impressive offerings from the prolific German scene for the past 10 years. This is classic speed/thrash at its uncompromising best, and although it's a compilation of an old material, it may inspire the guys to try something similar in the near future, to the fans' utter delight.
Demo Demo, 1985
Hell's Burnin' Up! Full-length, 1986
Demo Demo, 1989
Permanent Menace Full-length, 2011
The debut is an all-out lashing affair the guys shooting a bullet after bullet with the utmost intensity, wound-inducing stuff with rippers like "Maniac" and "Cannibal's Ballad" leading this unrelenting assault with "Born With Horns" inevitably hitting the deathly confines, including the near-hardcore ones on the outrageous shorter "Night of the Satanist", the only truly relaxed moment being the Bulldozer cover of "Whiskey Time" from the Italians' debut "The Day of Wrath"; and partly the speed metal merry-go-rounder "Voodoo Curse".
"Satan" is another hyper-active offering, "Burn His Corpse" and "Death By 69" flying by with the utmost vehemence, shattering the environment but making way for the mellower Motorhead-ish rocker "Cry Blood" before "Go for the Throat" brings proto-death at your door in all its fierce glory. "The Dead Watch You" and "Full of Evil" are more on the ripping speed metal side, adding more diversity to this intense aggressive recording.
Filthy Blasphemy Full-length, 2017
Satan Full-length, 2024
"Metal Missionary" shows the guys having not lost their cool touch although in terms of innovation this album can not score high. However, for those who liked the debut there will be no problems falling in love with this stuff: after the smashing opener
"Demolition Hammer" the band slow down predictably, but expect more aggressive surprises along the way: the thrashing bomb "Supreme Command", the short brisk killer "The Meat Factory". Fans of the classic side of all genres that are heavy, power, speed, or thrash, will do no wrong tracking this down.
Metal Missionary Full-Length, 2009
Chemical Death EP, 2008
Chainsaw Massacre Demo, 2009
Satan Plays Speed Metal Split, 2009
The EP is a more controlled offering, now clearly focused on thrash, even adhering to dark doomy riffs ("Rotting By Walk Alone") at times. "Slayer Of Black Mark" is the only less controlled proto-blasting number; the rest is intense mid to up-tempo stuff suffering from the muddy guitar sound and the incomprehensive apocalyptic vocals which can also be heard on the works of the
thrash/death metal outfit Rotting Blood.
The "Putrid Manifestations of South of Hell" demo is the band's most aggressive offering at this stage staying closer to death
metal on occasion the guys thrashing wildly with inspiration their efforts impeded by the bad sound quality which makes the guitars sound too thin. The delivery is pretty intense reminiscent of early Sadus and early Kreator with a few sudden displays of more melodic infatuations ("Reaching the Fucking End" which also contains the only blast-beats on the album). There is by all means a potential here if someone decides to give the band a hand and take them out of the deep South American underground.
Apparently that someone has materialized and here comes the band's full-length to shatter your peaceful world with a portion of
evil black-ish thrash done in the good old school manner. The aggression has been notched up a bit with brutal blasting passages
springing up more than now and then ("Decapitated Christ", to name just one example), still not ruining the picture which boasts
some impressive thrashing headbangers ("Glorius Lumina", the galloping delight "Golden PLains") which come with a nice melodic
"colouring" the latter almost omnipresent making this release both a brutal and a lyrical offering. The vocals are of the semi-
hysterical shouty variety here and make their fair contribution to the genuinely macabre nature of the album.
Under Metal Assault Split,2005
Blasphemy, Mayhem, War Split, 2005
Metal Addicted Demo, 2005
Nemesis Of Jesus Christ EP, 2006
Putrid Manifestations of South of Hell Demo, 2010
Christ Decapitated Full-Length, 2012