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 MCDEATH (GERMANY)
Based on "Lord of the Thrash", this outfit may try a bit harder in order to be labeled "Lords of the Thrash". At this stage this is just another derivative blend of modern and classic thrash. The title-track is a rousing anthem and indeed manages to lead the rest towards better future with "Evil Lyn" and "The Wytchhunter". "Through Hell" and "Pale Grey Sky" in the second half ensure some more fun for the headbangers and despite their very close resemblance to more recent Sodom and Paradox, these tunes will keep the fans happy, especially the latter with its memorable chorus and more epic arrangements.
Spit of Fury Full-length, 2006 Official Site MCGALLIGOG (IRELAND)
This Irish act provides (based on the full-length) decent modern thrash, which is both intense and semi-technical on occasion. The carefree attitude can't possibly be disguised on crossover joys like "Death and Glory" or the sing-along "Powered by Death". "The Sound of Speed" will hardly reach "the sound of speed", but is a pretty cool speed metal hymn ala the happy 90's. "The Gravedigger" is nothing like its title, but is a pleasant, albeit a bit overlong, ballad, influencing the closing "Demon Killers", which is a bit faster with power metal shades. The Irish folk heritage nicely springs up here and there, providing the necessary melodic relief, may be a bit too much in the second half.
Delusions of Madness EP, 2010 Official Site MD FLUSH (FRANCE)
This is your average modern 90's groovy post-thrash which bounces around with strong echoes of early Helmet, above all, with funk ("Three Women Inside"), marginally more full-blooded thrash ("Chicken Day"), and stoner/doom ("As She Dies") being displayed throughout, the quarrelsome semi-shouty vocalist rending his lungs to the best of his abilities, also trying to sing properly on several occasions. Some of the musicians also played with the hard'n heavy purveyors Scherzo.
Mr Scornful EP, 1995 Youtube MEAN MESSIAH (CZECH)
The debut: industrial modern thrash which has a lot of dynamics in a way quite reminiscent of Front Line Assembly's "Millennium". The guys thrash with force and the industrial elements only help aggravate the intensity, especially on major neck-sprainers like "The Death Song" and "The Last Ride". "The Game" is a short semi-technical explosion followed by another shorter, the operatic instrumental shredder "Saltatio Mortis". "The End" is more than a fitting epitaph thrashing wild with an abrasive edge and a slight death metal leaning. The singer is vintage Tom Angelripper (Sodom) maybe reciting a bit more, but his tirades are more than suitable to this cool robotic headbanger.
Hell Full-Length, 2013 Official Site MEANS TO COLLAPSE (GERMANY)
Modern thrash/post-thrash with shades of doom, heavy stomping stuff with frequent energetic build-ups, also with loads of dark atmospherics, the Paradise Lost-esque hymn "Unseen Truth" a handsome elegiac piece. The thick semi-shouty death metal vocals fit the stylistic switches one of which ("Emptiness") goes straight for pure headbanging thrash, and although such vigour isn't pursued as stringently elsewhere, there's enough seeping dynamics on both "The Abyss of Sorrow" and the short restless "Disguise" to keep the more pretentious in check, not to mention the rowdy boisterous rhythms of "Shattered Sun".
Shattered Sun Full-length, 2022 Official Site MEANSTREAK (USA)
An all-female power/thrash metal band who play power/thrash of the more melodic variety recalling at times 80's Chastain, with excellent female vocals. It's not deprived of good headbanging numbers: the intense thrashy opener "Roadkill", for example, but the rest is a mix of power and thrash metal clinging more towards the power metal side.
Roadkill Full-length, 1988 MEANTIME (BELGIUM)
Like their compatriots from Channel Zero, these guys started in an awesome fashion, resurrecting the glorious Bay-Area sound, opposing to the modern trends of the 90's. Meantime are perhaps even better than the other more popular band, with their music being more technical and overall better executed. Forbidden's debut is the main influence, including in the vocal department, but the music here has a slightly more technical edge which at its best also smells another Belgian act: Target. Unlike Channel Zero, this band voted to split up right after this demo, before turning into another Pantera-clone, like the other one.
Demo Demo, 1993 MEAT (BRAZIL)
The 90's trends have been translated by these Brazilians for the younger generations so expect post-thrash wrapped in a boosted modern production the resultant "therapy" hesitating between the groove and more interesting balladic/semi-balladic passages consequently offering nothing faster the exceptions being the cool headbangers "A New Medicine" and "Nothing Guaranty". There is also a lot of melody on offer mostly served in the form of short leads which are way more impressive than the indifferent semi-shouty death metal vocals.
A New Medicine Full-Length, 2007 MEAT GRINDER (USA)
A fairly cool classic death/thrash mixture which comes choppy and semi-technical, with also relatively lengthy compositions, the stylish tech-death leanings on "Lost Autonomy" very well acknowledged, the flashy virtuoso leads another tasty ingredient. The rough semi-death singer could be considered a banality, but there's little to complain music-wise, the Carcass-esque shredder "Drain of Blame" leading the pack,
the wilder more entangled "Mechanism of Evil" another reminder of the glorious "Heartwork". "Alone" would be a big surprise, a dramatic ballad with clean vocals also introduced, a fairly unexpected decision which gets instantly cancelled by the complex thrashing on "Grey Brain Matter", and the straight-ahead bashing on the short "Heretic". Watch out for "Society Mechanized", a heavy dark progressiver with a more controlled layout. Some of the band members are currently moshing with the old school thrashers Innerfury.
Misanthropy Full-length, 2000 Official Site MEATLOCKER (USA)
Based on the EP: hardcore meets the groovy deviations of Helmet and Pantera on the more aggressive parts; the former Intruder guitarist Rotten Ron Hanisco plays here, but hardly reminds of himself although the music is quite energetic, and some tracks are cool up-tempo headbangers ("Who's Your God", "Triangle Of Pain"). Certainly, there are fillers which had better be skipped (the punk-ish "OI Hate").
Demo Demo, 1990 MEATLOCKER SEVEN (CANADA)
The interesting name comes from their rehearsal place, which was a real meatlocker. A place like this certainly inspires for nothing else, but thrash/death metal of the modern type with a more aggressive approach than the lot, and sparse cool technical riffs ala Morbid Angel (the debut EP). The full-length is a truly heavy affair which is characterized by seismic 10-ton riffs and generally short tracks which carry a certain hardcore charge. The songs never develop beyond the volcanic mid-pace, but their pounding consistency should not leave the groovers disappointed. The closing "Pyroclastic Flow" is a more stylish decision with more technical guitars and more elaborate arrangements, with even clean vocals sneaking into the picture, which is otherwise dominated by forceful shouty death metal vocals.
Corrode EP, 1997 Official Site MEATSHANK (USA)
Based on "Scavengers", this band plays pretty decent thrash/crossover which is both melodic (check out the excellent "sweet" ballad "Sweet Release") and intense (the short exploder "Rate of Decay"), including one really nice speedy technicaller ("Hell Road") as a finishing touch, a surprising closure to this otherwise straight-forward effort which boasts sharp guitars and expressive shouty proto-hardcore vocals.
Meat N Cider EP, 2004 Official Site MEATWAGON (CANADA)
Good modern thrash metal similar to what Overkill and Cyclone Temple were doing around the same time, plus a few technical, Jeff Waters-like, riffs which shouldn't be such a surprise having in mind that most of the band members had done service in Annihilator. The sound takes a very modern groovy orientation at times ("Laid to Rest"), but also expect energetic near-classic thrash rhythms ("You Speak With Lies") to befall you on relatively regular bases. The groovy fillers ("Casket for Two", the title-track) keep coming, though, the insistent pounding on cuts like "Travesty of Justice" some kind of a remedy against those, the sinister doom clout of "Institute of Revenge" another ponderous occurrence, before the album finds its sprightlier stride with the crisp jumper "Nerve Ending" and the album highlight "Mouthwired", a nice invigorating power/thrasher which also gives the singer more chances to display his vocal bravado which mostly consists of high-pitched semi-clean semi-shouts.
Left With Nothing Full-length, 1996 Official Site MEATWAGON (USA)
This demo is full of first-rate brisk, fast-paced technical riffs which come with a strong crossover edge at times, but of the more aggressive variety: think less linear and more meandering Wehrmacht. The guys have a good taste for pace and don't constantly bash without brains, but provide the casual more stylish shredder ("Skitzoid"). "Moment of Climactic Fury" even offers some choppy technicality which is partially transferred on the unpredictable Atheist-esque closer "Stuck", a most frantic number with mazey riffy salads and brilliant twisted leads; for this cut alone this demo is a must-find, a very undeserving leftover from Atheist's "Piece of Time". The singer also recalls Kelly Shaeffer from the mentioned technical death metal wizards, but lower-pitched and a bit less dramatic.
Demo Demo, 1989
Official Site MECHANIGOD (ISRAEL)
This is industrial modern thrash which is more on the engaging side with serious thought-out compositions ("The Serpent`s Greed") where there's not much aggression present, but the ripping riffage should suffice to keep the listener interested in the proceedings which may remind of Grip Inc. and the Finns Vortech some guitar virtuosity ("Beyond Realms of Reality Part 2") also thrown in to hint at the band's bigger musical potential.
Realms Full-Length, 2013 MECHANISM (CANADA)
This new formation is another vehicle for the talents of the drummer Gene Hoglan. The style is fairly complex progressive modern death/thrash metal with sharp technical riffs, frequently changing tempos, and, of course, precise expert drumming. To describe the band's style would not be a very easy task, but if you can imagine a cocktail of Nevermore, Biomechanical, Meshuggah, Obliveon, and their compatriots Martyr, you may get somewhere. The vocals are divided between screechy black-ish and brutal death metal ones; oh, and let's not forget the semi-clean ones springing up from time to time. The lead guitar work is quite good and works very well combined with the very complex, vortex-like riffage. The guys don't rely on very long songs, the only exception being the 7-min progressive opus "Hall Of The Gods" which is a wild mix of moods and time changes ranging from sprawling head-spinning sections to very short blasting moments. Even short numbers, like "Awake" or the less-than-2min furious "Lord And Thief", are very heavily technically-charged, leaving a little room for straight headbanging passages. The closer "Hellmutt" will scare you with its very brutal blasting beginning, and is the only death metal number on the album, a somewhat illogical exit from it, having in mind that there was no trace of brutal stripped-down death metal to be heard earlier. Still, it remains a fairly satisfying slab of technical/progressive metal, and may do well to fill in the gap left by Obliveon as the leaders of the modern side of the genre in Canada.
Inspired Horrific Full-length, 2009 Official Site MECHANIX (GERMANY)
Having taken their name from the last track from "Killing Is My Business,...", this band's style shouldn't be hard to define: pretty cool melodic thrash which sticks close to 90's Megadeth (1992-1997), but more aggressive ("Aggressive"), and the vocal lines of Dave Mustaine. The lead guitar work is particularly impressive featuring great melodies, and the guys do an admirable job bringing to mind the technical, sharp riffs of their renowned peers. With Megadeth being on the edge of falling from grace in the late 90's, Mechanix came right on time to keep their style "alive", and even nowadays they seem like their worthy competitors. I can see quite a few of you banging wildly their heads on the excellent "44 Masterplan" which is a slightly modified version of Megadeth's early thrash hymn "Devil's Island" from "Peace Sells...".
Mindfucked Demo, 1997 Official Site MECHANIX (POLAND)
Based on the "The Very First Heavy Release" demo, these guys were quite capable of pulling out cool technical thrash along the lines of early Megadeth (up to "Rust in Peace"), an influence also betrayed by their name; the singer has a voice quite similar to Dave Mustaine, maybe a bit rougher. The music is not aggressive, but the musicianship is quite good with nice leads and a heavy bass bottom. Reportedly the band have given up thrash on later releases, and have joined the nu-metal legions.
The Very First Heavy Release Demo, 1993 Official Site MECHANIX (RUSSIA)
Melodic power/post-thrash, strongly influenced by Metallica's Black Album; this is much inferior, though, with borrowings from other genres (the hard'n heavy "Disclose The Secret"), and numerous melodic elements, including one cool ballad at the end: "Feel The Pain", which is the best song on this below average effort.
Gravewish Full-Length, 2008 MECHANIZATION (USA)
Based on "Kenosis", this band plays derivative unsurprising modern thrash/death metal which is suitably heavy and steam-rolling, but its tank-like approach has been adopted by quite a few contemporary acts already. The guys show their more brutal side ("Boiling Point"), but there are absolutely no risks for one to break his neck here, despite the really heavy nature of the music. The singer is your average death metal growler with echoes of Karl Willets (Bolt Thrower).
Holon Full-length, 2007 Official Site MECHANYZED (USA)
The debut: this act specialize in old school power/speed/proto-thrash which is suitably energetic thanks to uplifting cuts like "Metal Fatigue" and "Post-Expertise", the jumpy merrier, also more technical "Deep Insight" diversifying the palette more, but still playing before the wayward speedster "Drone Strike", and by all means before the progressive epic closer "Nuclear Eschaton", which also boasts supreme virtuoso lead sections. The vocalist is a cool clean mid-ranged presence who knows when to pitch it higher to a more imposing dramatic effect. Some of the musicians are also active with the sludge/doomsters Throng of Shoggoths and the stoner metal outfit Pudwich.
Upshot-Knothole Grable Full-length, 2022
Lord of the Thrash Full-length, 2015
Powered By Death Full-length, 2011
"Divine Technology" is a more ambitious affair as evident from the larger-than-life opener "Interment of Ashes/Hello Again!" which goes straight into Strapping Young Lad and other Devin Townsend-led territories, the multifarious industrialisms losing their edge on the catchy dancey ""Divine Technology", but swiftly recapture lost ground with the intense thrashing "The Beast". The other ambitious conglomerate "Blood of Sirens/The Call" is an intense thrashing riff-fest the aggression from it reflected in the remainder among which "Za Svetlem" is an overblown extreme metal symphony ala more recent Dimmu Borgir.
Let Us Pray EP, 2016
Divine Technology Full-length, 2020
Keep the Faith demo, 1991
Triangle Of Pain EP, 1994
The Biological Mechanism of Hate Full-length, 2003
Depression Earth EP, 2004
2005 Sampler EP, 2005
"Ruins of Depravity" is a cool thrashing fun, the guys raging hard ("Viscera Avalanche") with an overt hardcore sting, relaxing at times with more moderate stompers ("Corrupt in Vain"), the proto-death brutalizer "Processed Meat" violating the environment with its wild rhythms, leaving the more stylish chops for the more intricate and more melodic "Swine Class".
Fucking Metal Full-length, 2008
Scavengers Full-length, 2010
Ruins of Depravity Full-length, 2017
I was quite surprised to find that "History Re-Rotten" contains completely different tracks from the ones included in the obscure Best of Compilation on which I based my review above; but the style remains the same: melodic semi-technical thrash along the lines of Megadeth, with the vocals even more resembling Dave Mustaine. This is very good stuff; mid-paced, with deviations into a faster play: the fine headbangers "Zero Point", "Passive/Agressive", and especially the mighty short outburst "27", again following the way Megadeth used to do it in the good old days (remember "Holy Wars" and "502"). These guys are a pleasant surprise, although they hardly offer anything outside pure Megadeth-worship.
The intro to "Sonic Point Blank" is already a fairly intense, "mechanix" affair with a strong industrial flavour, but later on the Megadeth worship is in full swing being of the softer mid-90's (think "Youthanasia", above all) type for most of the time, with occasional outbursts of rage (the death metal mid-break on "Collateral Damage"). "Skarface" is a surprising 2-min thrash/crossover piece, but on the other extreme we have the 6.5-min dreamy, pensive ballad "Point of No Return". Then more hardcore happiness follows suit (the 1.5-min joy "My Style"), before the epitomized Megadeth delivery comes back to stay until the end, supported by good melodic Mustaine-sque vocals. This album sounds amazingly close to Megadeth's "Thirteen" which was released a year later, if we exclude the more immediate crossover "jokes", and as such can hardly be ranked along with the band's earlier output, which had both more edge and energy.
Masters of Self-Destruction EP, 1999
History Re-Rotten Full-length, 2003
Point of no Return EP, 2005
Sonic Point Blank Full-length, 2010
Diverse Opinions Demo, 1997
Never-fail Fix Demo, 2003
"Solipsism": the monotonous chugga-chugga saga continues without any drastic changes served in a more playful, frolic manner ("Hallowed Ground") at times, at others with a massive war-like, battle flavour (the 10-min opus "Mass Purgatory"). "Decree Of Servitude" is a cool nod to the doom metal scene, and "The Bloodfal" is the only more aggressive number again recalling the legends Bolt Thrower.
"Mortem in Aeternum": the battle march carries on remorselessly the guys death/thrashing with a lot of heaviness again, the officiant mid-tempo tone settling in in the middle, seldom disturbed by more intense escapades ("Vice Returned"). Touching doom ("Blood Moon", the majestic "Untethered") becomes no problem with a delivery of the kind, and it seems as though this may be the direction in which the band will be heading on future releases.
Kenosis Full-length, 2011
Solipsism Full-Length, 2016
Mortem in Aeternum\Full-length, 2017
"Crossroads Baker" is a livelier and overall better affair, the guys moshing with more passion now as evident from the very opener "A Rising Tide... Criticality Event", a bursting speed/thrasher, and although later on the album features a more laid-back material, one can do much worse than the entertaining galloper "The Highway of Death" and the epic quasi-progressiver "Fascism Creep", "Hypersonic Tungsten Rod" justifying its title with an array of smattering hard-hitting riffs.
Crossroads Baker Full-length, 2023