UMUR "Degrees of Manipulation" is the 2nd full-length studio album by Canadian thrash metal act Alphakill. The album was independently released in October 2018. It´s the successor to "Unmitigated Disaster" from 2012. Alphakill were formed in 2010 and originally were a four-piece consisting of Jesse Skoleski (Bass, Backing Vocals), Derrick Kroll (Drums, Vocals), Jon Warren (Guitars, Backing Vocals), and Justin Stear (Vocals, Guitars). Skoleski left Alphakill after recording "Unmitigated Disaster (2012)", and was replaced by Jon Anderson. Anderson never got the chance to record with the band though as he left again in 2014. The remaining members of Alphakill didn´t find a new bassist before recording "Degrees of Manipulation" and the album is therefore recorded as a three-piece with Warren and Stear handling the bass. After the recording sessions were finished a new bassist was added to the band in Jordan Gosselin.

6 years between your debut album and your sophomore album is a long time, even in this day and age, where artists don´t necessarily release albums each year anymore, but Alphakill have managed to continue and evolve the thrash metal style they initiated on "Unmitigated Disaster (2012)" rather seamlessly. It´s raw and powerful thrash metal, but it´s not devoid of melodic moments, and lead vocalist/guitarist Justin Stear is a skilled singer who can sing both raw and more melodic when that is called for (not completely unlike the singing style of Russ Anderson of Forbidden, but not quite as unique). The material on the 10 track, 52:54 minutes long album are generally vers/chorus structured, but Alphakill successfully incorporate bridges, loads of shredding guitar solos and harmonies, and other little details to keep the album entertaining and varied throughout (the use of riot gang backing vocals is for example a nice touch).

The quality of the songwriting is pretty consistent although some tracks are slightly more memorable than others. Nothing is sub par or anything like that, but there are some tracks I remember better than others after finishing the album. Highlights to my ears are tracks like the opening "The Straw Man" and "Bow to No Man", but some of the longer tracks like "Morality Blurred" and "Monumental Hypocrisy" feature some of the most technically interesting moments on the album. While I´d describe the core musical style of the album as classic US/Canadian styled thrash metal, there are actually some pretty technical playing on some tracks.

"Degrees of Manipulation" features a raw and powerful sounding production, which suits the material well. Taking into consideration that this is an independent release, I think Alphakill have managed to produce a very professional sounding affair. So is it a step up from the already high quality of the debut album? I´d say they are pretty equal in quality. In some areas Alphakill have evolved and developed their style (the vocals are a bit more diverse and the occasional technical edge is also more prominent here than on the debut), and in some areas I think there are signs of stagnation (or at least some tracks sound like the band are satisfied with continuing the style they initiated on the debut). Upon conclusion "Degrees of Manipulation" is a good quality sophomore album by Alphakill, and they can be proud of their work, which should appeal to fans of old school US/Canadian thrash metal with a melodic sensibility and the occasional technical edge. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

Nightfly Whilst I’ve heard no shortage of great death metal in 2018 I can’t really say the same about thrash, though I have to say I focus more on death metal these days, so I may have missed some gems. The latest Artillery album “The Face Of Fear” which certainly impressed me and Revocation’s “The Outer Ones” are my top picks of the year, the latter in particular blowing me away as Revocation always do with their technical death/thrash. Perhaps they don’t count though as they’re as much a death metal band as a thrash one. Another band on the more technical side of things is Canadians Alphakill who despite releasing their debut album “Unmitigated Disaster” in 2012 have passed me by until now. I still haven’t heard that debut but I’m pleased to have caught up with them on their second recently released album “Degrees Of Mainipulation”.

These guys can really play and while they seem to be have been influenced by old school thrash like Forbidden and Exodus the sharp production brings their more technical riffing bang up to date. Brilliant musicianship alone will not however make a great album and thankfully these guys have the songs and riffs to back up their musical chops. Yes “Degrees Of Manipulation” is jam packed with killer riffs and incendiary soloing. I’m also impressed with vocalist Justin Stear’s more traditional and cleaner approach being more in the Charlie Benante or Forbidden’s Russ Anderson vein though nearer the latter doesn’t particularly sound like either. Most of the songs are pretty fast, as you’d expect in this genre, though constant twists and turns keep things interesting with drummer Derrick Kroll tight and dextrous playing anchoring it all down. Guitar and bass duties is shared between vocalist Justin Stear and Jon Warren who can shred with the best of them when required but they never lose sight of the importance of the riffs. I could point to pretty much any song as evidence but Morality Blurred being a favourite of mine is as good an example as any of how good this band is.

As I already said the production is sharp but a minor criticism is that it could benefit from more bottom end but for an independent release they’ve done a great job. Whilst these guys remain largely unknown at the moment “Degrees Of Maipulation” has the musicianship and songs to reach a far wider audience. Definitely a band to keep an eye on and I look forward to album number three.