Urne : "A Feast On Sorrow"

 

Thrash is making another resurgence thanks to bands like Power Trip. This time it comes from London in the form of the power trio. Produced in New York by Joe from Gojira, the band combines the anger of thrash with a nod to modern bands like Mastodon, in how they work sung vocals into the fray. "To Die Twice" borders on sludge and death metal in the underlying intensity. "Slumber of Words" finds a more melodic groove, with vocals going from singing to coarse howls. More articulate than death metal growls. There is some hook to the riffs which is appreciated. These guys are certainly giving songwriting a shot. There is some great guitar playing and if you are looking for guitar heroics this album has it but not to wanking excess. 

The chugs at the beginning of "the Burden" are impressive. The way the vocals are used remind me of Prong. While obviously influence by the Metallica vein of thrash, they have a post- Pantera groove. "Becoming the Ocean" has more of a snarl to it. This leans them back into Mastodon's older heavier side. Some may not like the referencing of these bands, but they do wear their influences on their sleeves and we call it how we hear it here. I would say it is done in a way that still retains a sense of originality rather than reheating nostalgia, which Power Trip can be guilty of at times. They touch on death metal with the title track , that they contrast with a sung chorus. They display there sense for riffing by the end of the song, and are wise to not try to rush things in a blur of speed. 

They close the album with "the Long Goodbye, Where Do the Memories Go?" that is the lyrical climax of an album that has been centered around loss. With that said it could have been darker , which is my only complaint. I would say dark is not thrash metal's thing, but then there is Slayer and the bands they spawned....Dark Angel, Sodom, Kreator...etc. The vocals have more of scowl to them here. It mainly flows at a mid paced stomp that hints at hard core. It builds into a straight up gallop that would not be out of place on a Testament album. I will give this album a 9, it's a very solid well done piece of work that should break them over into a bigger audience.