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 0 ZONE (GREECE)
Modern mechanical thrash which comes with a curious quasi-progressive feel, but the too shouty death metal vocals and the relative lack of more intense sections ("Thrashing Mind" the only exception, of course) make this recording too monotonous and not very exciting in the long run despite the bigger ambition shown with the complex closing title-track.
End of Days Full-Length, 2014 Youtube O.B.E.Y. (UK)
This power UK trio pull out modern/classic steam-roller thrash which is mixed with doom to a pretty squashing effect alternating the two sides on longer sprawling compositions like "Anger Hunger" and "Learn not to Pay" where wild rhythms, on the edge of falling into death metal, take turns with seismic ultra-heavy moments. This is charming stuff having at times the early Celtic Frost vibe assisted by attached semi-shouty/semi-death metal vocals.
Romance of Misanthropy Full-Length, 2006 Official Site O.D.I.O. (SPAIN)
This outfit offer dynamic modern thrash with a few post-thrash tendencies. The groovy passages are aptly intercepted by vivid up-tempo ones some of which reach the deathly dimensions ("Altered States of Consciousness") with ease. "Jealousy" is an interesting chaotic composition sticking out among the dominant short outbursts of energy topped by very shouty death metal vocals.
The Mourner Full-Length, 2015 O.P.E.N. (UK)
Mechanical industrialized post-thrash with jazz and funky moments; this is both jumpy and atmospheric music with a strong alternative vibe and several balladic stretches plus ridiculous computerized vocals which still suit the hectic robotic delivery.
Let's Get It On! Full-Length, 2010 O.N.E. (RUSSIA)
These Russians offer melodic power/thrash with crisp guitars and a few more aggressive moments ("Na Grani") where the riffs start thrashing with more force. Generally this is moderate stuff with balladic and grunge touches ("Zver"), and an occasional adherence to speed metal ("Kto Otdal Jizni za Nas"). The singer is good with his passionate clean mid-ranged timbre.
Smotri i Pomni Demo, 2011 Official Site O.T.FACTOR (USA)
Based on the "Legends" demo, these folks indulge in excellent semi-technical speed/thrash ala Deus Vult and Have Mercy marred by the muddy sound quality. The music is fairly intense and eventful its less predictable nature culminating on the 10-min title-track
which combines sweeping thrash with heavy stomping passages this amalgam led by nice steel technical guitars and forceful
semi-clean vocals. The closing "Metamorphasis" is a shredding instrumental with great screamy leads.
Double Standards Demo, 1989 Facebook OATH (FINLAND)
Moody classic thrash with gruff shouty death metal vocals; "Closed Mind" is a pleasant deviation with more dynamic guitars and a very good sense of melody, and "Schizophrenic" is another shift from the sombre delivery with more vivid thrash/crossover decisions. Some of the band members are active at present with the black metal formation Exordium.
Woodlands Demo, 1996 OATH OF CRUELTY (USA)
Based on the full-length, this act serve very well constructed blizkrieg, no-bars-held retro thrash/death which is way more than just mindless vicious bash like the more contrived "Stabbing Forth with Invincible Damnation" shows early; in fact, the band unleash more technical riffs ("Through Alchemy and Killing") at will, the shadow of Deicide ("Into the Chamber of Death") looming heavily on the more brutal material. The speed of light is nearly reached on the maddening "Victory Rites of Exsanguination", and this is pretty much what one will come across here, aggressive uncompromising stuff elevated by the more ambitious approach on the closing title-track. Some of the band members also play with the death metal outfits Blaspherian and Cemetarian.
Hellish Decimation EP 2014 Facebook OATH OF PERSISTENCE (BRAZIL)
Based on the full-length, these lads serve modern thrash/death which disperses the established mechanical setting with bouts of more or less bridled aggression ("Queen of the Swarm", "The Awakening"), the second half clinging more towards the faster aspect of the band's repertoire, with fiery bullets like "Through the Painting" and "At the Gates of R'lyeh" winking at the Gothenburg school with the timidly displayed melodic sentiment.
Arrival EP, 2023 Official Site OATHBRINGER (SERBIA)
This is mostly retro power metal which rages on at times ("Stand or Fall") in a less restrained thrashy manner, the more complex speed/thrasher "Shayol Ghul" another interesting proposition, standing proud and loud next to the epic moroser "Moria", the remnant of their demo years "Under the Spell" raging hard on occasion, complementing the decent mid-ranged clean vocalist. Some of the band members are also occupied with the doom metallers Invisible Hate and the heavy metal formation Riddle of Steel.
Tales of Glory Full-length, 2022 Official Site OBDURATED (FRANCE)
Based on "I Feel Nothing": the modern death/thrash saga is given another chance here, and the Gothenburg fans should find their favourites in France this time, of all places. No complaints as the band play with conviction adding the more intriguing hoax... sorry, hook ("Hoax") whenever possible. "Heaven" is a breath-taking melodic instrumental which beats the metallic numbers by miles although indeed the rest isn't bad at all the closing "Forefathers" elevating the progressive pretensions heard previously to new heights despite the audible reduction of the speedy sections.
Living in Failure Full-length, 2005 Facebook OBEDIENCIA CERO (SPAIN)
This is modern choppy thrash the guys displaying a good sense of technicality ("Madre Tierra") at times, but overall this slab is more on then lashing side thanks to rowdy tunes like "Vendetta" and the vigorous title-track. "Que Triste Es Decirlo" rushes with less bridled rhythms, too, its manic tendencies reflected ion the hardcore accumulations on "Marcha Imperial" and the harsh shouty death metal vocals. Some of the band members are also occupied with the thrash/crossover unit Death Above.
Ansiedad Social Full-length, 2023 Official Site OBEISANCE (USA)
Based on "Lucifer Master": this band is a kind of a side project for the members of the Mexican death metal maestros The Chasm. The music, however, bears no resemblances to death metal opting for classic thrash metal mixing heavy stomping riffing ala Celtic Frost with faster energetic numbers in the tradition of early-Bathory and the Swedes Bewitched. This is straight stuff, you won't find any twisted technical riffs typical for the The Chasm style, but is enjoyable and a good reminder of the heydays of thrash metal.
Lucifer Master Full-length, 2002 Official Site OBERON (CANADA)
Based on the "Endless Life" demo, these folks indulge in a classic thrash/death offering which relies on both sold galloping riffs ("Left behind") and on more entangled thrashy configurations ("Homocidal Sacrifice"), the harsh throaty death metal singer trying to fit somehow into the diverse but compelling melee, the cover of Slayer's "Black Magic" followed by another one, of Venom's "Bloodlust", both pieces done well despite the muddy sound quality accompanying them, and the singer's limited shouty abilities. Some of the band members also take part in the death metal cohorts Asphyxiation and Devastator.
Endless Life Demo, 1996 OBERON (CZECH)
Based on "I Hate Everyone Equally", this band play crusty heavy hardcore-ish thrash in mid-tempo supported by throaty brutal death metal vocals. The approach may not hold water for too long since it's pretty samey till the end the guys spicing the proceedings with the casual more melodic addition (the guitar lines on "Absolute Power", the utterly unexpected surreal technical hooks ala Voivod on "Superstar"). The end comes in the form of a heavy quasi-industrial version of Sepultura's "Bloody Roots" which is a bit clumsy and moodier compared to the original.
Sleep Now in the Dark of Hell Full-length, 2003 OBERON (SWEDEN)
Choppy crunchy retro power/proto-death/thrash which tries something more technical on "Insane", but the very shouty hardcore vocals and the several groovy sections kind of mar the impression, although the band do soldier on with the stylish squashing proto-deathing of "Suffer" and the well-measured trots of the hectic "Winterland". The sound quality is quite clear, and it's a pity that this effort is so short, just sketching the band's seeming potential, which later got more fully displayed under the Auberon moniker .
Insane Demo, 1995 (see Auberon) OBESSOUS (ECUADOR)
Heavy stomping power/thrash of the old school which doesn't shy away from more doom configurations ("Get the Light"), the consistent mid-tempo clout dissipated by the odd outburst of aggression ("Innocent Your Mission Is Attack"). "That's so Real or Not" is a more radio-friendly piece with a power metal flavour, but watch out for "Give Me the Answer", a violent hardcore melee, this one cancelled by the goofy rocky closer "Rock & Roll Is Forever".
At the Devil's Time EP, 2018 Official Site OBEY BIZAR (USA)
Based on the demo, this act specialize in typical for the time groovy post-thrash which comes served with a pinch of classic semi-technicality ("Noble Remains"), but this is generally entertainment for the Puncture and Grope crowd with "Mind" being a particularly nice proto-doomster with a sudden speed break. "Prisoner" attempts something choppy and crunchy, but such developments are casual at best, the semi-shouty/semi-clean vocals assisting the somewhat noisy musicalities with suppressed passion. Some of the musicians were also active with the power metal formation Final Sign.
Breakthrough Demo, 1994 My Space OBFUSCATOR (BOLIVIA)
Based on the full-length, this band play retro black/thrash that can be wild and untamed (the opening madness "Necromantic Awakening of the Flesh", "Starving Wolfpack") and occasionally mellower and epic ("Sorcerer's Revenge"). The screechy shouty black metal vocals are all over the place, the shadow of the Finns Impaled Nazarene ("Archaic Death Worshiping") also soaring above this odyssey which is by no means for the faint-of-heart, with black metal obliterating all vestiges of thrash by the end with a streak of violent blacky melees, leaving the closer "Satan's Vixen" to bow out with a gust of more moderate thrashisms.
Void of Blood EP, 2016 Official Site OBLITERATED (ITALY)
Ambitious modern progressive thrash (the debut EP) which pulls in the listener with the primal twisting shredder "Doubtful Existence" before relieving the situation with the more immediate "Return to Oblivion". "Memories of Human Dust" is a larger-than-life saga, quite eventful, but the real winner here is the closing "Mind Illusion", a stylish nod to Artillery's heydays with sharp lashing guitars and nice technical licks, the only downpoint being the presence of the snarly death metal vocals.
The Dreadful Meaning of Being EP, 2013 Official Site OBLITERATION (UK)
One of the less known bands from the British metal scene; it's hard to define their style with a few simple words, though: there are fast, aggressive numbers; there are slower doom parts; there are mid-paced, semi-technical tracks, too. It might sound impressive to some, but as a matter of fact this is just an average thrash metal album.
Obscured Within Full-length, 1990 OBLITERATOR (SPAIN)
These Spaniards acquit themselves with good fast blitzkrieg retro thrash which can also be chaotically technical ("Agent of Chaos") although the super-fast riffage doesn't give too many chances for other gimmicks to develop beyond the occasional glimpse. This is wild aggressive stuff which will leave the listener with a wide smile on his/her face throughout its close to half an hour of playing time including the vocals which are forcefully shouty reminiscent of Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys, Lard) on the more melodic tones (the closing "Do You Know What Freedom Is?").
Legends Demo, 1990
Summary Execution at Dawn Full-length 2019
Fear of the Unknown Full-length, 2024
The Answers Within Full-length, 2009
The Covers Within EP, 2012
I Feel Nothing Full-length, 2014
"Unholy, Unwholesome and Evil" is an ultra-brutal black/death metal affair with very few moments of thrash. This is well inferior to the much more proficient debut, constantly blasting in a noisy drum-dominated way with only "Dark Gardens of Eternal War" providing some comfort for the listener with cool doom rhythms. The rest is just mindless bash, and it would be really hard to believe that The Chasm members are responsible for it.
Unholy, Unwholesome and Evil Full-length, 2006
F.U.C.K.: Forever Unholy Christian Karnage EP, 2007
Satanik Shoktroops Auf Doom EP, 2008
The "Dark Warrior" demo is more in the speed/power metal mode (the vehement opener "Dark warrior"), the singer now being a high-pitched soaring tenor, accommodating the dynamic proceedings with ease, the latter taking a bow on the epic battle-like delight "Crossing the Avalon". "Conquest for Glory" is a relatively peaceful mid-pacer, but expect a whirlwind of first-rate speed metal on the exemplary all-instrumental odyssey "Goblin Worx". "Seeds of Justice" suddenly changes the course towards more hard-hitting thrash/speed, the vocalist adding a harsher deathly tone initially, making this nice track a diverse not very predictable roller-coaster.
Dark Warrior Demo, 2002
I Hate Everyone Equally Full-length, 2004
Power Stomp Full-length, 1996
Intimidation Full-length, 2000
The Chaotic Darkness Full-length, 2018
The "Fragments of Infinity" EP displays very big ambition from the beginning with the nearly 12-min opener "Creator Of Void" which dynamics is also highlighted by a stroke of bombastic black metal near the end. "Ouroboros" is desirably a more down-to-earth shredder the guys mixing the tempos and accentuating the headbanging tendencies on the fast-paced ripper "The Shores Of Chaos" also adding several infectious melodic tunes on this one. "Wings Of Macrocosm" is a more laid-back number with a lengthy mid-paced introduction before the band carry on with their energetic arsenal. As a whole this effort isn't as stylish as the first EP despite the epic proportions of the first composition.
Fragments of Infinity EP, 2016