Bonded By Blood - Feed The Beast review
Band: | Bonded By Blood |
Album: | Feed The Beast |
Style: | Thrash metal |
Release date: | May 12, 2008 |
Guest review by: | Paradox0 |
01. Immortal Life
02. Feed The Beast
03. Psychotic Pulse
04. Necropsy
05. Mind Pollution
06. Another Disease
07. The Evil Within
08. Tormenting Voices
09. Civil Servant
10. Self Immolation
11. Vengeance
12. Theme From Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
[limited edition bonus CD]
01. Severe Violation
02. Unusual Punishment
As many people know, 2008 was a year which showed a strong Thrash revival. From critically acclaimed projects by big bands, to band reunions as well as an overall a surge of well received fresh meat, '08 could have been called "The Year of Thrash". While many of the better known break-through acts more or less regurgitated what their idols had done, this rather obscure quintuplet from California released a beast so ferocious it would rival even their own influences.
Feed the Beast can best be described as a crossover-thrash album (thrash and punk), but don't let the punk influence fool you into thinking that they play some kind of watered down, done-to-death Anthrax/Exodus tribute. Rather, they play thrash with one of the best balances between speed, heaviness and outright energy. If there was a way to describe them by comparing them to other bands, imagine the heaviness of Testament, the speed, aggression and uninhibited mindset of Slayer and perhaps similar vocal work to Anthrax, or Municipal Waste.
Eschewing acoustic passages or anything else thrash metal bands tend to use to make themselves more "sophisticated", Bonded By Blood go right for the jugular. All of the songs seem to hold a similar amount of high energy without ever taking a breather. Although this might seem like it would get boring after four or five tracks, it surprisingly doesn't, which is what makes this album so special. Each track just seems to utilize the formula from a different direction and consistently breathe new. Although songs like "Psychotic Pulse", "Self-Immolation" and "Necropsy" stand out above other songs; they only serve as a strong pulse to what is already a fast paced foray.
Needless to say, Feed the Beast does not go without its flaws. Perhaps going hand in hand with such an uninhibited approach to thrash, the lyrics are actually rather uninspired and unoriginal. The other negative about Feed the Beast is despite the awesome riffing, the solos are lacking and can barely be qualified as wankery.
Despite these flaws, Feed the Beast is still something of an "idiot-savant" as far as thrash goes. Although lacking the finesse of some of their predecessors and peers; it does what very few bands have managed to do. Although now rather obscure, word will surely spread of this young and explosive band due to what they've offered in this album.
Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
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