Labels: self released
Review by: Edward Ling
There’s talk in some quarters of a new wave of thrash metal. The recent This is Hell release being a good example. This release from a Swedish crew of not unvenerable heritage “” they have been going in some form or other I think since the early 90s, and used to go by the evocative name of “Machine God” – is very much of that ilk. With a commercial and accessible sound, there is more than a touch of the revival about this – comparisons with Soundgarden at their heaviest or Pantera spring readily to mind. That said, there are some pretty good “grooves” to be found and some new combinations of sounds, heavy breakdowns and the like that make this (in the context of heavy thrash) a satisfying and pleasant listen. There is something of “Western” conceit at play here. Kind of like the way Mastodon went all concept with Blood Mountain, it doesn’t completely get in the way – but you do have to just go with it. One for the European festival circuit (I think they are fairly big in France), and deserves to be early middle billing on the main stage at Downlode on the first day. Like.