Kev Rowland
17, 18, 19, 19. No, that’s not today’s lottery numbers, but the age of this old-school thrash outfit. Founded early 2010 in Jyväskylä by thrash/speed metal enthusiast Samy Elbanna, the front man established a band that played anywhere and everywhere that they could. They took part in the Glbal Battle of the Bands and won the right to represent Finland at the finals in the UK. Being signed to Nuclear Blast has obviously given this young band a great advantage and Nino Laurenne (Amorphis, Ensiferum, Lordi) took over the production duties at the famous Sonic Pump Studios (Finntroll, Sonata Arctica, Omnium Gatherum etc). The result is an album that in many ways could have been recorded more than twenty years ago, but with a guitar sound that is very much of today. But how does it stack up against the greats?
Well, it’s okay, possibly nothing more and definitely nothing less. These young guys can really play and while the vocals and lyrics aren’t exactly anything to write about they pound through at a rate of knots and there is obviously as much a Sex Pistols influence as there is Megadeth. This album has already charted in their native Finland, but in the rest of the world this is probably going to be seen as more of a door opener, as they get to jump onto some tours. I reckon these guys supporting Evile would be something to see, and it will be interesting to see how they progress from here. If you want something that allows you to lose the dandruff, that combines passion and polish with power and raw naivety then this will be of interest. www.nuclearblast.de