Band:	Onslaught
Album:	Sounds Of Violence
Style:	Thrash metal
Release date:	January 12, 2011
Guest review by:	Lord_Agony

01. Into The Abyss (Intro)
02. Born For War
03. The Sound Of Violence
04. Code Black
05. Rest In Pieces
06. Godhead
07. Hatebox
08. Antitheist
09. Suicideology
10. End Of The Storm (Outro)
11. Bomber [Motörhead cover]

Onslaught have been a part of the early thrash era, and their previous albums bear signatures from hardcore punk accompanied with thrash and power sounds. The band paused their work by the end of the '80s until 2007's Killing Peace marked their comeback into the realm of thrash metal, a return that draws influence from the outlines of the thrash metal genre and delivers the outcome into a sharper and more definitive set.

While their previous work seemed to show a nondescript and exploratory character, Onslaught has never sounded as good as they do on this album. Onslaught's recent efforts haven't failed to impress, and Sounds Of Violence is a good example. The Chuck Billy-ish appeal in Sy Keeler's vocals continues to offer a noteworthy and distinctive trait for the band's overall sound, one that is firmly present on this album. With blistering riffing and madly quick tempo that is the usual par for the genre, brutal and hammering vocals that accord frequent growls deliver some unforgettable music. Tracks like "Born for War" and "Suicideology" firmly instate that violent sound, while others like "Godhead" and "Antitheist" radically take that brutal sound into the utmost with oriental melodies.

The album excels on the coordination between that powerful sound and fine-tuning sensed in leads and beautifully felt when there's a decline in tempo, and the result is potent and sharp sound that is perhaps one of the main reasons this album strikes pleasure to the ears. Lyric-wise the album present the routine political, religious and suicidal subject matter which is akin to usual thrash metal acts; however, it's fair to say that no track on this album is bereft of character, which makes the album a worthwhile experience lyrically.

As far as recent thrash metal albums go, Sounds Of Violence unravels that barrier which separates the mundane from the brilliant. Usually with a creative mindset on song writing, the middle ground is nearly absent and you won't expect the album to present an average model of sparse and fair, mediocre effort, and Sounds Of Violence is no exception. It absolutely delivers the powerful performance seemingly whetted in brutal vocals and sharp riffing. It's an unmistakably brilliant effort as it is a remarkable experience of thrash metal perfection.