Chainbreaker - Relentless Night (2020)

This album is a metalheads dream, loud pounding drums, brutal bass lines, riffs and solos with screeching vocals. It's simple - Chainbreaker just know how to thrash and they get right to the point. No bullshit interludes, no ballads, no intros or outros, no flirting with other genres, nothing. They simply went into the studio and punched out a short, sweet, and to the point album of ballsy, gritty, thrashing insanity without even looking back to make sure they were doing everything perfectly. If you're a fan of metal as I am, then you should be able to easily understand this sort of concept. Standout tracks? The whole album is great as it more or less all sounds the same, being thoroughly consistent all the way through. It will get you headbanging straight away, exactly like any metal album should do. This is the essence of metal, and I can't see why someone who likes thrash metal or heavy metal in general in the slightest would object to this band. The 80s may have been great for metal, but let's not pretend there isn't a ton of high-quality metal around today. Chainbreaker is dirty, thrashy and in-your-face, it's also pretty brilliant!

metalonmetalrecords.bandcamp.com

Review by Paul Caravasi

HellSpike - Lords of War (2020)

I have found HellSpike to be a band that is indeed incendiary among their genre. Perhaps one of the most fiery of all Speed metal these days, they have produced a sound that while being melodic and obscure, as Speed metal is, but also has a sound which contends with much more brutal forms of metal. Their incendiary, concussive sound is toned down a bit with melody. I would say that this album is essential for any fans of classic obscure traditional metal. And those who do not like Speed metal may like this band for it's fiery and skull shattering sound. A superb album !

facebook.com/hellspikespeed

metalonmetalrecords.bandcamp.com

Review by Paul Caravasi

Ignitor - The Golden Age of Black Magic (2020)

This album is a mix between power, speed, and a heavy metal. Most songs are mid-tempo power metal riffs though some songs like "Hell Shall Be Your Home" fall much more into the category of Speed metal with fast riffs and solos. The songs are either good or bad, fortunately many are solid songs. The vocals are just the typical power metal high pitch falsettos for the choruses and mid-range for everything else. The guitar work is solid focusing more on the riffs then the leads which is definitely not unusual for power metal. The drumming is solid as well. The bass is audible for the most part which is quite unusual for this genre. Overall "The Golden Age of Black Magic" is mainly a solid affair, the arrangements are very clever and thought-out. I recommend this release to any fan of German Power or Speed Metal, especially if you’re one of those people who prefer no keyboards in their Power Metal.

facebook.com/IGNITOR.METAL

metalonmetalrecords.bandcamp.com

Review by Paul Caravasi

Satanic Priest - Demo 2020

It doesn't matter what style of music you're talking about, nothing beats a good tune or Demo. For example, some could said most of bands sound "generic" while others could say they're fast. Now certainly in 2021 i say Satanic Priest fkn rules!!They are pretty damn fast and should certainly be considered extreme for this time. As for the comment that some bands are "generic", I'll simply never understand those who feel that way.These guys execute thrash/speed metal very much their own. Stylistically for me, Satanic Priest has similarities to bands like Exciter, early Anthrax, Hallow's Eve, a bit of Nasty Savage, etc. They play a nasty style of thrash Metal which i fkn love. A badass vocal deliveries a punch in the face. Very punked out and delivered with tons of attitude, raspy, spitfire style growl is timeless and inimitable. I couldn't imagine anyone who is a thrash fanatic not having this demo. It’s hard to choose highlights, but "Lust and Alcohol" is probably my favorite. There’s really no particular reason, as all the songs take the same approach, but the riffs and melodies are sick. This kind of stuff should appeal to you if you’re into aggressive speed metal like Exciter or Tank, but keep in mind that this is much more unique and full of its own quirks (oh yeah, and it’s faster too). If you like your music fast fast fast - get this demo NOW!

satanicpriest.bandcamp.com

facebook.com/bloodfiredeath666

Review by Paul Caravasi

Hell Priest - Demo 2019

Okay, the vocals are borderline thrash, but this is just about as SPEED METAL as it gets. And it is very good speed metal indeed. This is pretty much a 'fun' demo, though fun here is defined to be smashing skulls and drinking blood at 900 miles an hour. The guitar tone is more classic-metal than anything else, and there are a lot of punching moments too. At times the songs kinda sound the same (a problem for a lot of speed metal bands, really), and then when they slow down a bit do they really get character. Then throw in a very well-constructed solo that is fast and shredding without tempting God to kill a kitten. If you like classic metal with an edge, you'll like this. When all is said and done, this demo doesn't quite sound like anyone else. So I'll simply end with this, if you want relentless speed/thrash with an aggressive rough vocals, with crazy razor sharp fast guitars, and don't mind simplicity, get The hell priest Demo immediately !

facebook.com/hellpriestvt

hellpriestvt.bandcamp.com

facebook.com/bloodfiredeath666

Review by Paul Caravasi

Ejaculator - Whore Of Hell (2020)

Muddy production values to create a misted blood-storm of metal that few have been able to execute.  Ejaculator brings violence and set a standard for raw black/thrash metal. I am not a big fan of BM But i respect when a band tries not to imitate and follow their own path.This band bring dark emotions to build a haze of despair, anger and violence that few bands could match. This isn't  not only extreme, but shows musical talents as well if you pay attention to it. The patterns are deadly, powerful and hypnotic enough that they catch your ear anyway. Own this, or suffer the consequences of your own, miserable, tasteless purgatory.

ejaculatorvt.bandcamp.com

facebook.com/bloodfiredeath666

Review by Paul Caravasi

Shitangel - Demo XXX (2020)

This demo is a very simple, yet effective style of black/death metal. A decent production and mix, with some "primitive" songs, similar to early Bathory, hellhammer musicwise. There are some mixed influences, but you can hear that these guys are really into their music. There are no highlights or stand out elements here, like i said before , it's effective, just a very good old school metal with some ultra evil lyrics. These maniacs play good metal with lots of attitude. Looking for some good old school raw stuff in the Bathory/hellhammer vein? Get this demo!

facebook.com/shitangel666

facebook.com/bloodfiredeath666

Review by Paul Caravasi