Band:	Korzus
Album:	Mass Illusion
Style:	Thrash metal
Release date:	1991
Guest review by:	Cynic Metalhead

01. Agony
02. Victim Of Progress
03. P.F.Y.L.
04. Beyond The Limits Of Insanity
05. Unpredictable Disease
06. Mass Illusion
07. Kids Of The Streets
08. Blood For Blood
09. Living In Pain
10. Raise Your Head
11. Midnight Madness [bonus]
12. The Illuminated [bonus]
13. Inútil [Ultraje A Rigor cover] [bonus]

1991: In a year dominated by thrash metal giants and the unexpected rise of grunge, Brazilian thrash metal band Korzus faced significant challenges with their sophomore and underrated release, Mass Illusion.

With brilliant albums such as Sepultura's Arise, Coroner's Mental Vortex, Overkill's Horrorscope, Heathen's Victims Of Deception
and Atomica's Disturbing The Noise topping the thrash metal chart, and Nirvana's Nevermind revolutionizing the music world with grunge, the competition was fierce.

Korzus, having released one EP and a debut album prior, entered this competitive arena with Mass Illusion. Despite being often labeled as a carbon copy of Sepultura, there are distinct elements in their sound on this album that set them apart from their contemporaries and show why they deserve recognition beyond the shadows of their peers.

Mass Illusion exemplifies aggressive riffing, ticking, thrashy drums, and wild, whammy leads, creating a distinctive production quality. Although guitars are nearly one-dimensional, the solos exude some fine aromatic flavors that pull the listeners in and create groovy momentum. The album opener "Agony" stands out with its brief intro featuring organs and other keyboard sounds, while title track "Mass Illusion" begins with acoustic guitar and spoken words, evolving into a more mid-paced song. "Unpredictable Disease" illustrates technical change-ups, adding complex elements to the album. The brilliant conceptualization of leads, combined with crusty riffs and drums, "simplifies" thrash to feel more organic, as heard in tracks like "Blood for Blood" and "Living in Pain". This approach adds an extra layer of intrigue after the preceding ferocity and aggressive riffs.

The methodology behind Mass Illusion differentiates between chugging thrashy riffs with minimalistic beats. Sadly, this was undermined due to the resemblance to Sepultura, which completely nullified Korzus's attempt on its face value. The album also faces several notable shortcomings that hinder its overall growth such as repetitive guitar work and chugging riffs recurring across different tracks, creating a monotonous texture. The album fails to entirely break out of its shell and innovate, when I felt Korzus had the potential to break free from the 80s speed/thrash sound that dripped into the ears of fans.

In Mass Illusion, Korzus offer a variety of shades and flavors, distinguishing their work during a time when many bands were vying for chart supremacy. Listeners who appreciate thrash/speed and groove metal, especially those familiar with the vibrant Brazilian metal scene, will find the album particularly engaging.

Highlights: "Mass Illusion", "Unpredictable Disease", "Beyond The Limits Of Insanity"