Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Terrifier : "Trample The Weak, Devour The Dead"









I rarely check out the new wave of thrash bands. I was really into thrash when it first kicked off in the 80s, so I saw Exodus, Metal Church, Coroner, Testament , Nuclear Assault, Megadeth, Slayer, Metallica, Anthrax, Flotsam & Jetsam, Wrathchild America and more back in the day. This Canadian band does a pretty decent job of recapturing those glory days, but with modern production value rather than trying to recreate the Combat Records sound. When you go back and listen to those albums half of them sound dated. "Bonded By Blood" still stands, up and it is fitting that I mention that one as Exodus is probably this band's biggest influence. They have break neck tight palm muted riffing , and are not afraid to throw down in the pit. The vocals have more purpose than most of today's metal. 

They might be more consumed with the need for speed than Exodus. The first song it worked pretty well, the second one is more of a blur of razor riffing. I like that the singer tries to do the higher pitched screams. There is more of a hard core cross over thing going on with their rabid galloping. "Grinding the Blade" is the first song since the opener where the guitars engage you melodically. The guitarists steal the show with no apologies here. "Death and Decay" captures more of the feeling that I want from thrash as a narrative about a psychopath unfolds. They are big on their solos, and if that is your thing it will impress you. 

Death metal vocals come in on "Dawn of the Slaughter" .  Lyrically it reduces them down to the common place metal tropes. "Awaiting Desecration" does not do anything to reinvent the wheel. It thrashes along at a more deliberate pace. Not the most original thing, but they do a good job at what they set out to do, I will give this an 8.5. 

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