……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
The thrash revival movement of the mid-to-late ’00s was a generally brief but spiky affair with a two-pronged effect. On one hand, there was a total over-saturation of generic party/beer/zombie/skateboard/mosh-themed bands like Fueled By Fire or Thrash Or Die (ugh!) who provided little substance or sincerity. On the other hand, it helped many a metalhead rediscover their love for a style that, let’s face it, helped define our beloved genre in the halcyon days of the 1980s. Lest we forget the array of genuinely great new-wave thrash metal bands who actively pursued their own niche paths and carved their own image through the sub-genre: Evile, Warbringer, Municipal Waste, Toxic Holocaust and many more. The initial influx having died away, throughout the 2010s a new new wave of thrash metal bands arrived – more evenly spread and maturely approached than before. In this edition of TMO x10, Larry digs up those who offered the best thrash metal had to offer in bitesize chunks between 2010 and 2019. Some of these acts have since split, some have gone on to relative success, and some we just don’t know, but they all released brilliant EPs in the last decade. If you need your fix of toxic metal madness, check these guys out (they are in no particular order, except maybe #1). Links to the EPs are embedded in each heading.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
10. Toxic Assault – The World Down In Disgrace (2018)
2. Into The Dark Age – 04:10
3. Explicit Violence – 04:29
4. Beyond Insanity – 04:48
Not having a page on The Metal Archives or a particularly active online presence definitely classifies these Brazilians as underground by modern standards. Toxic Assault’s approach to the genre is one of gritty violence, but with a surprising amount of refinement – allowing them to compose relatively lengthy songs with plenty of substance. The occasional hooky vocal line keeps our attention spans focused, while the unending cavalcade of low and dirty riffs ensure our necks remain to close to breaking point. Their debut EP, Thermonuclear Devastation, is also worth a listen but The World Down In Disgrace shows more potential for an expansive sound. And that artwork is ace.
Visit: https://www.facebook.com/toxicassaultthrash
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
9. Violent Wave – Imminent Creation (2016)
2. Mortal Fight – 04:44
3. Live In Misery – 4:56
4. At The Edge – 03:40
5. Submit Unto Your Passion – 05:00
I swear I didn’t input these guys just for diversity purposes. Hailing from Venezuela, Violent Wave take their brand of metal directly from the Flotsam & Jetsam school of thrashing. Plenty of snare-fronted beats, semi-clean, shouty vocal barks and chromatic riffs on this EP take me right back to the Doomsday For The Deceiver record. The introductory title-track might be just a tad too long, but it does a damn good job at creating an unsettling mood before the pummeling riffage of “Mortal Fight” knocks you on your ass. Great performances all round, substantial length for an EP and a cool-as-fuck logo, these South Americans definitely deliver the goods. Violent Wave have been pretty much silent since 2017(ish) but Imminent Creation gives me enough of a reason to keep my radar receptive in the direction of Venezuela.
Visit: https://www.facebook.com/ViolentWaveBand
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
8. Chemical Storm – Doomed From Day One (2018)
2. The Violence That Follows – 03:38
3. Doomed From Day One – 05:06
Chemical Storm might be a generic moniker, and Doomed From Day One may have some fantastically disturbing artwork, but these Brits know how to lay down a slamming groove like no one else on this list. Just check out the first minute and a half of this EP: I don’t know about you, but my neck aches just from sitting still listening to that back-breaking riffage. What a fuckin’ sledgehammer of a track! “The Dreaded Sundown” may be one of my favourite thrash numbers in recent memory, but it’s not as if the other two songs drop the ball at all. This entire release is fifteen minutes of battering thrash metal which rarely spends long at typical high-speed velocity, instead choosing to annihilate its audience by flattening them with a fucking steamroller of riffs. Prepare your neck muscles for this one. Unfortunately, Chemical Storm are inactive for the foreseeable future – but drop ’em a message on Facebook and let ’em know you appreciate their excellent contribution to the genre.
Visit: https://www.facebook.com/ChemicalStormThrashUk
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
7. Sektarius – Supply & Demand (2016)
2. Chemtrails – 02:10
3. Dismembered Remains – 03:51
4. Enemy at the Gates – 05:55
5. Reign Of Terror – 03:40
6. The Philosophers are Dead – 05:29
The Metal Archives may have this band labelled as ‘active’, but trust me, they’re not. In 2018, Mike Gallegos, the main man behind Sektarius, released a pretty damning statement on the band’s Facebook page putting an end to the Chicago quintet’s official activities and – shockingly – decrying their one release: 2016’s Supply & Demand. Now, I can’t quite believe I’m arguing the positive side to a release of a now-defunct outfit, but he described this EP as ‘compressed and sterile dogshit’. This is an unprecedented situation I find myself in but you, dear reader, can see for yourself. Check out the first few seconds of this 2016 gem and tell me that isn’t some beefy-ass, Sepultura-influenced death/thrash which reeks of ferocity and pure fucking balls. The furious momentum almost never lets up on this EP, and when it does break down into stomping grooves (like the lengthy “Enemy At The Gates” or the middle section of “Reign Of Terror”), it does so with hammering conviction. Supply & Demand is a hefty and ripping death/thrash EP with excellent cover art, no matter what the composer himself says!
Visit: https://sektariusthrash.bandcamp.com/album/supply-and-demand?fbclid=IwAR0irjRGGTmR1K5qO5Nlq_-Y0ccaejjw-FtZKqWImCQd1PVHRISldVUI2Tc
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
6. CharmCharmChu – Majestic Brewing Order (2016)
2. Fuck Off, Cops! – 03:57
3. Warhorse – 05:13
4. Repetitive Error – 04:22
5. 650 – 05:20
6. Bring In The Wine – 04:23
7. Thrashmaker – 04:23
China & Hong Kong have a pretty precarious history when it comes to this style, with the likes of Tumourboy and Sacrifice Soul giving passable, but ultimately mixed contributions. The oddly-named CharmCharmChu (Poor Poor Piggy!) caught my eye with their moniker alone. Add in the amazing artwork for their debut release, mix it with their obvious penchant for quirky humour – and you have one of the most intriguing thrash EPs of the past ten years. I could have chosen either of the two EPs which came after this one, but 2017’s The Delusion doesn’t quite reach the same quality and 2018’s B-Side is just plain weird. Therefore, 2016’s Majestic Brewing Order makes the list for the high riff-count, batshit vocal performance, and lengthy duration. At half an hour and seven full-length songs, CharmCharmChu earn maximum respect points for their substantial addition to East Asia’s speed metal scene. Oh, and there’s a cowbell. Deal with it.
Visit: https://www.facebook.com/charmcharmchu
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
5. Anticosm – The Wreckoning (2011)
2. The Wreckoning – 02:46
3. Death Never Sleeps – 07:37
4. Of Glory & Gold – 05:01
5. Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love (Van Halen cover) – 03:00
Wasting absolutely no time, one of the more prolific projects on this list kick us straight in the balls with their fiery version of thrash – this time leaning more on the blackened side of things. Frenzied trebly riffs, raspy roars and shrieks, and lightning-fast double-kick attacks are the order of the day for Anticosm. The New Jersey quintet have been at it since the early 2000s and currently have three full-length albums to their name, but this 2011 release is their one and only EP. The Wreckoning is a wonderfully varied affair, with the short, sharp blast of the title-track contrasting beautifully with the more extensive, proggy “Death Never Sleeps”. Then, as a bonus surprise, they gift the listener with a quirky rendition of Van Halen’s “Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love”. Even though I’d recommend anything Anticosm have done, The Wreckoning makes for the perfect starting point.
Visit: https://anticosm.bandcamp.com/?fbclid=IwAR3VqzG5M8DLcg1DKf8AqCsuj_NWjCuLCgpiV0xxQgUfPImBOmbcScDqAYE
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
4. Atominated – World Without Flesh (2013)
2. My New Face – 02:04
3. Contagion – 03:42
4. Hook Torn Flesh – 03:41
It’s about time Ireland gave us some decent old-school thrash. But before I get anyone’s hopes up, the brilliantly-named Atominated split up all the way back in 2014 after two demos, a few singles … and this EP. World Without Flesh displays an infuriating amount of potential that was sadly never capitalized upon with a much-deserved LP. These guys even did shows with the mighty Onslaught and Artillery – but even that could not prevent their inevitable split. Thankfully, this release is only thirteen minutes long so you’ve got plenty of time to spin it again and again and again! It has beautifully raw production that doesn’t swallow everything; a tight & snappy drum performance, razor-like riffs and plenty of tempo changes. Eoin Clarke’s punkish shout makes for a refreshing diversion from the blackened rasps I was expecting, and the vocal patterns and hook lines are infinitely memorable. Grab your hook, your axe, your saw and scream along: ‘I JUST WANNA SEE YOU DIE!!”
Visit: https://www.facebook.com/atominated
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
3. Biotoxic Warfare – Baptized In Blood And Greed (2013)
2. Dementia – 04:40
3. Lust For Hate – 04:07
4. Evil Dead (Death cover) – 02:46
Okay, so this might sound like it was recorded in a soundproof shed, and the guitars might be a smidge out of tune (really noticeable on the more sustained chords) – but it’s a tuneless shed I wanna live in. Biotoxic Warfare (frankly the most ‘thrash’ sounding name ever concieved) are a speed metal outfit from Greece who utterly embody the spirit of early Sodom and others of that ilk. There are plenty of doomy segments on this EP to break up the frenetic onslaughts, and a boatload of death metal influences – epitomized by a splendid cover of an early Chuck Schuldiner classic. But if you’re a true thrasher at heart, wreck your neck to the ferocious velocity of “Dementia”, then check out Biotoxic Warfare’s full-length 2015 LP: Lobotomized (you can check out our review for that gem here). As far as I’m aware, these demonic Greeks are still kicking around; the brilliant Baptized In Blood & Greed was just the launchpad…
Visit: https://www.facebook.com/BiotoxicWarfare
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2. Cross Examination – Dawn Of The Dude (2014)
2. Opposite Day – 01:34
3. Ritual Snackrifice – 01:03
4. Hail To The Jeef – 01:26
5. Subterranean Thrash Assault – 01:25
6. The Bluntacolypse – 03:54
7. Dawn Of The Dude – 02:38
Nothing says ‘crossover’ like seven tracks in thirteen minutes. The whereabouts and whatsabouts of Cross Examination since this EP’s release back in 2014 is currently up for debate; this was the last thing to come out of the Missouri madmen’s camp. However, tours and new record notwithstanding, vocalist Daniel Hill is currently, and hilariously, running for Governor of Missouri… Yeah… Anyway, Dawn Of The Dude manages to cram a surprising amount of variety into its mega-short run-time. It’s rife with random movie samples which actually manage to add genuine comedy to proceedings. But if they don’t make you at least chuckle, then the Kegmaster’s completely batshit vocal performance certainly will. Seriously, this guy sounds like Zetro Sousa perpetually falling off a cliff – I love him. Backed up by convincing gang-shouts and a totally surreal lyrical approach, Dawn Of The Dude is a barrel of laughs. Raise a beercan and nod to the groove/swing of the title-track, or just go fuckin’ nuts and throw trash around your bedroom to “Opposite Day” – just always be sure to scream ‘WHAT…THE…FUUUUUUCK!?!”.
Visit: https://www.facebook.com/crossexamination
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
1. Grindpad – Sharkbite! (2017)
2. Sharkbite! – 04:38
3. The Lion’s Strife – 03:19
4. Come In Peace (Go In Pieces) – 03:33
5. Outro – 01:52
Currently riding a wave (pun intended) of success upon the release of their brand new album, Violence (which is, frankly, one of the best thrash albums of 2020 so far – check out our review here) I imagine Grindpad owe quite a bit of their current fanbase to the rebranding that took place on their 2017 EP Sharkbite!. The amazing artwork by the legendary Ed Repka displays exactly what these Dutch metallers are all about: violent, riotous metal which riffs hard but is tons of fun. The mix here is utterly gorgeous and, thankfully, carries on into the 2020 full-length. Everything is so clear, precise and snappy, but loses none of that raw old-school vibe which makes this type of thrash so irresistible. Blasting out of the speakers with a heralding cry of ‘WE’RE NOT FUCKING DEEEEEEAD!!’ was the best way to announce a return to the fold. Equally comfortable at breakneck speed and at half-time chugging, Grindpad cover all necessary bases. Just check out that riff drop 18 seconds into the title-track…then the other one almost a minute later. That’s the kind of shit that forces heads to bang. This EP is an all-round triumph and should serve as the bar for the standard of new-new-wave thrash acts.
Visit: https://www.facebook.com/Grindpad
