Band:	Extinction A.D.
Album:	To The Detested
Style:	Crossover thrash metal
Release date:	August 16, 2024
A review by:	AndyMetalFreak

01. Desperate Grasp
02. Escape From New York
03. Epidemic Of Mutation
04. Apocalypse Rising
05. Impervious (Unrepentant) [feat. Matthew Kiichi Heafy]
06. Fill The Void
07. Burnt Sienna
08. Shepherding Swine
09. Behind The Veil Of Sanctity
10. The Cure Or The Cause

I'm not down with the social issues of late, but all I know is Extinction A.D. are a furious thrash act that have released their anguish To The Detested.

Since the golden age of punk, musicians have released their rebellious anguish state of mind through fast, aggressive, energetic music. Although we've come a long way musically since the likes of The Ramones and The Sex Pistols, the themes surrounding social issues haven't really altered much from back then. This raging punk attitude is something we find grindcore, hardcore, and thrash to have in common, even though the music styles certainly have different levels of extremities. However, much like myself, there are many people out there who don't really have much involvement or interest in social issues or political agendas these days, whether it affects us or not, but just want to let loose of some other form of anger that's eating you up inside regardless, and an excellent headbanging session through ferociously energetic, groovy thrash is ideal. That's where Extinction A.D. come in.

Extinction A.D. are a ruthless US crossover thrash group formed in 2013 off the back of hardcore band This Is Hell, and their ferocious music generally reflects on themes involving social issues. The band's discography has been steadily building over the last decade since their establishment, beginning with full-length debut Faithkiller (2015) through to now, when they unleash their fourth and latest album to date, To The Detested. The line-up remains unchanged since their previous effort,  Culture Of Violence (2022), consisting of Ian Cimaglia (guitars) and Tom Wood (bass), who feature alongside founding members Rick Jimenez (vocals/guitars) and Mike Sciulara (drums). Their previous effort Culture Of Violence was an aggressive and reasonably enjoyable album, and also a fair reflection on our modern society, but for me, it never quite lived up to the mark I believe it perhaps could have overall, certainly leaving room for improvement I'd say. So the question remains, has To The Detested done the job this time?

"Desperate Grasp" begins the album in a ferocious manner, with a tempo delivered with breakneck fury through classic groovy thrash riffs, earth-shattering bass, powerful drumming, Phil Anselmo-esque angry vocals, and a heavily damaging tone. The song follows the basic template for modern thrash and hardcore; the power, aggression, and groove capture the early days of Pantera, but also the punkish attitude and insanely furious tempo of Municipal Waste. From here on, things continue in the same way, with minor but noticeable variations in the songwriting.

The biggest changing element for me is the vocals, which, as I pointed out, sound similar in a way to Phil Anselmo, but there are occasions where he presents hardcore shouts and deathcore-like growls, and even hints of Chuck Billy's performance on Testament's The Gathering. On top of that, narrations are featured on several occasions to fit with the album's theme, and lightning-speed, wailing, thrashy solos are also a main standout feature; even though they're short, they're highly effective and performed exceptionally. Other highlights that just break the repetitive mould are "Apocalypse Rising", which seems to go through a series of deathcore-style breakdowns, and less groove-oriented chugging riffs, and "Burnt Sienna", which is like nothing else featured on the album, with its ritualistic Spanish/Mexican theme, the tribal drumming patterns in particular standing out most.

For me, To The Detested is definitely an improvement on their previous release, but not only that, I also believe it's the band's heaviest and most aggressive to date. The endless supply of groove, as well as its unrelenting flow, with one track merging into the next with such a high level of ferocity, should definitely get your adrenaline pumping, and send moshpitters into a manic headbanging, fist-clenching frenzy. Extinction A.D. are steadily building a reputation that may eventually lead them to become a household name in crossover thrash, and To The Detested should surely help them on this journey, if not cement their position.