UMUR
"In Humanity" is an EP release by US power/thrash metal act Toxik. The EP was release through SubLevel Records in February 2020. It bridges the gap between the band´s third and fourth full-length studio albums "Kinetic Closure" (2020) and "Dis Morta" (2022).
"In Humanity" features six tracks and total playing time of 23:26 minutes. The first three tracks on the EP are culled directly from the 2014 "In Humanity Pre-release" demo, which was Toxik´s first release after their 2013 reunion. The remaining three tracks are tracks from the same 2014 demo recording session, which were not included on the original demo. All six tracks were remastered in 2018 and included on the "III Works" compilation album.
Stylistically the material on the EP is still US power/thrash metal with the occassional progressive edge, so in that respect it´s a continuation of the the music style the band played in the late 80s, but the more updated production values provide the music with a heavier sound and lead vocalist Mike Sanders predominantly sings in a more raw mid-range vocal style, although he can still hit the high notes of the past when that is called for (he actually sounds quite a bit like Russ Andersson from Forbidden on this release). "In Humanity" features a professional studio production, or least a sound production, which isn´t audibly a demo quality production (this was after all originally released as a demo and not a studio EP).
I understand why Toxik opted to only release the first three tracks on this EP on the original 2014 demo, because the remaining three demo tracks included on this EP are of a slightly lesser quality to the three originally released demo tracks. "Subverter" is a strong track though, which could easily have been featured on the original demo, while "In Humanity" perhaps sounds a little less developed and unpolished (and sligthly less interesting). The instrumental "Lunacy's Fringe" closes the EP and while it features some interesting ideas, it´s not the most interesting track either. Still a 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.