Tag: thrash metal

REVIEW: Eternal – Cryptic Lust (2023)

If you haven’t heard Eternal yet, I understand. But there comes a time when any self-proclaimed music genre fan needs to listen to something other than the classics and the commercially accessible.

Eternal’s first full length release Cryptic Lust is incredible. Gothic horror gutturals to the nines, as the best old skool Death Metal often does. And crunchy tones, riff city, as the best old skool Thrash Metal often does.

Cryptic Lust is 12 tight tracks clocking in at approximately 45 minutes- perfect. And caps off with a cover of Deathcrush by Mayhem that’s absolutely punishing (in a good way). I highly recommend working this record into your listening rotation.

For my Metal listening sessions I’ve found myself pairing Cryptic Lust with the Feral LP from Concrete Caveman, also released in 2023. The ’20s thus far have been great for Metal music if nothing else. If you rarely find yourself listening to anything released after a certain year, now’s the time to jump back in!

For fans of: Cannibal Corpse, Testament, Gorement

Like Eternal? Give these a listen: Livid, Inhuman Condition, Artificial Brain

REVIEW: Slayer – Repentless (2015)

Does it live up to their classic material? Of course not. You reach over to your shelf of records, thumb over to Slayer, and you’re gonna grab Repentless? No way!

You listen to Slayer because you want that classic Slayer sound. The only reason you’d grab Repentless is because you spent $20-$30 on the album when it was released and now the more it’s played the more your purchase feels justified. Just grab what you really want to listen to: Reign in Blood, South of Heaven, Hell Awaits, etc. They’re great records! Why listen to a nutrient deficient version of what you really want?

Repentless doesn’t give you any other reason to listen to it. Slayer never developed too much from album to album- which has led to great consistency for better or worse. But since no one album offers anything significantly different from the last album- even aesthetically- it’s too easy to reach for the classics over this every time.

Araya sounds rough here. Lombardo is clearly absent. And coming along with Hanneman’s death before recording on the album began? It feels like they should’ve just scrapped it. It’s not bad, but it’s not worth the time or money. Cash grab? Maybe. Same old song and dance? Absolutely.

For fans of: Metallica, Venom, Exodus

Like Slayer? Give these a listen: Grip Inc., Sacred Reich, Vio-Lence

REVIEW: Witch Vomit – Buried Deep In A Bottomless Grave (2019)

Nothing is new under the sun, and that includes this record. But regardless it’s a delightful show of character across 27 minutes of thrashing grind (or is that grinding thrash?).

Clamoring kick-snare pitter-patter interspersed between blast beats give ‘Buried Deep’ a unmistakable Thrash tinge, while the string instruments’ heavy emphasis on downbeats hearkens back to early Metal innovators like Autopsy and Cremation. 

Littered with wild false harmonic wails reminiscent of banshee yells (or more appropriately, witch cackles), ‘Buried Deep’ shows a lot of character which I personally love.

It’s your standard thoroughfare of claustrophobic grind sessions and more ‘breathable’ groove-centric open space, single note synth interludes with rain and horror movie samples shuttling the listener from song to song (Listen to second track Despoilment to hear what I mean).

That’s not to say it’s a bad album though. The songs are strong. Fun band name, fun art, fun titling across the album. ‘Buried Deep’ ends strong, and as musicians Witch Vomit certainly bring the chops necessary for what they’re trying to pull off. 

There’s a dynamic range missing that if added could really elevate the group’s current strengths. I’d encourage all creatives to further experiment outside of the studio. Editing is the creative’s friend, and no one has to know what was cut from a final album. I’d also like to recommend a band like Witch Vomit to listen to something really out of their wheelhouse- Mr. Bungle, Petula Clark, doesn’t matter so long as it jars open new paths of music experience. See what it can rattle out of the creative mind. Serve yourself, serve your art, and keep shredding.

For fans of: Autopsy, Cremation, Regurgitate.

Like Witch Vomit? Give these a listen: Liquid Flesh, Concrete Winds, Pariiah

REVIEW: Liquid Flesh – Chair Liquide (2020)

Liquid Flesh put a fresh breath of life back into Thrash Metal with their 2020 release Chair Liquide. Hailing from Grenoble, France, the trio is a dynamic three-pronged powerhouse dedicated to the finer things in life: b-movies, melting faces, and Twin Peaks.*

The band’s mid tempo brand of Death-infused Thrash Metal has a degree of groove and intricate tune weaving reminiscent of Pig Destroyer guitarist Scott Hull. This is perfectly exemplified on 4th track Toxic Blues, which sounds like Ward 6 or even Prowler-era Pig Destroyer slowed down to almost half speed.

The album is beautiful, and is doesn’t heed the beyond well-beaten path of their Thrash Metal lineage. Chair Liquide is a cohesive collection of well-crafted songs that will make you reevaluate (or re-appreciate) the state of Thrash Metal. They may be a little slow for Cannibal Corpse fans, but their dynamic appeal can reach across the many camps of metal music with relative ease.

Fun fact: Grenoble, France is sister cities with Phoenix, AZ here in the states. I knew it, and now you know it. Congrats!

*Why Twin Peaks seemingly has such a large fan base among the French music scene I don’t know, but I highly respect it. If you’re interested in that sort of thing, I highly recommend our guide to The Fast Paced, Lighthearted World of DOOM JAZZ.

For fans of: Bolt Thrower, Pig Destroyer, Celtic Frost

Like Liquid Flesh? Give these a listen: Ghoul, Vio-Lence, Power Trip