Ελληνικά
Genre: Thrash Metal
Country: Greece
Label: MMD
Year: 2015
During the 80s there were a bunch of bands playing speed and thrash metal, several of which led the genre to extreme forms with particular vocals, high speed and technique. We had the pleasure to enjoy some gems of the genre, but most of these bands did not last, releasing a couple of albums and after that disappeared in nothingness. They disappeared from the map and we were wondering what happened, since most of them left without a trace. Several of them reappeared when the new wave of thrash/speed metal came back but who knows what the future holds for them? Are a few live gigs or a new album enough? An important role in the regeneration of this new wave had our country, along with other European countries, breeding many very good bands, as extreme or even more than those of the 80s. The fans seem to have embraced the bands and keep supporting them by buying their material and giving dynamic presence to the gigs. The main purpose, however, is the duration and time is the best judge. Let’s hope that things will roll smoothly this time, because so far this is the impression it gives us.
The third Exarsis album finds them in changes to their style and especially their line-up. Vocalist, guitarist and drummer left the band, just before they go on tour. Musically the new album leaves the technical speed-thrash metal and enters into clearer thrash forms, reminding us of early Testament, Anthrax, Death Angel, etc. The new vocalist Nikos Tragakis covers worthily the position of the previous singer, fully responding to the requirements of Exarsis style, continuing as his predecessor at high pitch vocal frequencies, but avoiding singing continued at this pace, going to more normal vocals, and of course there are many backing gang-vocals, a trademark almost all of the new thrash bands.
A credit to Achilles, the new drummer, who attributes extremely to what’s needed and brings the drums into the spotlight, something that was not evident in the previous albums. Along with bassist, they create one of the most interesting rhythm sections, another feature of the Greek bands in which they launch special weight.
We got an album that deals lyrically with the illuminati as far I can understand. At the inaugural «Arrivals» we got the delivery and collection of the old vocalist to the new one with the participation of the former vocalist Alex. From the rest of the tracks surely stands out «Police Brutality», their best and one of the fastest, yet brutal songs ever written by a Greek thrash metal band. Monumental. The level of the band increases, due to tracks like «Abnormal Generation», «R.F.I.D.», «False Flag Attack», «Skull & Bones», «The Brutal State» (continues the tradition of the last song being the title of the previous album). Cover made by Bouzikov tending to become the illustrator of the new thrash dynasty and great production by M. Carpathiou.
In the next album we expect even better things, as long as everything goes well and without any unforeseen circumstances.
4/6
