Band:	Sulfator
Album:	Gemini
Style:	Progressive death metal, Technical thrash metal
Release date:	January 09, 2025
A review by:	F3ynman

01. Imperium
02. Genomorphis
03. Protocol Zero
04. Chaos Division
05. Over Space And Time
06. Voidblast
07. Path Of Gemini
08. Obsidian Son

2023 was a great year for fans of technical, progressive, Vektor-like thrash metal with bands like Terminalist, Venus, and Hellix. After the subsequent drought of 2024, I was beginning to get worried that this resurgence was just a flash in the pan. Fortunately, only a few days into 2025, Sulfator have given me renewed hope.

Sulfator are a thrash band from Toulouse, France. Despite Gemini being their debut full-length album, they're not a new band. In fact, they formed over a decade ago in 2013, performing several mini-tours and opening for bands like Lich King, before eventually releasing their debut EP Feed The Demon in 2015. After going on a lengthy hiatus, Sulfator have reunited to release their first full-length album, which leads us to the present day.

On their Bandcamp page, they cite several thrash bands as influences: Vektor, Megadeth, Anacrusis, Voivod, Annihilator, and Obscura. Based on those inspirations, you probably accurately estimate how Sulfator’s music sounds like. If you guessed wickedly fast riffs, technical guitar solos, and groovy energy infused with progressive elements, you are absolutely correct!

The album is fueled with the characteristic thrash metal electricity that grabs the listener and just won't let go. The cold technicality in the mesmerizing guitar layers that almost never take a break. Entrancing guitar solos on several songs like “Chaos Division” show their ability to play elegant melodies alongside the fun, breakneck riffs. The prominent bass guitar offers some really nice licks, too, such as on “Obsidian Son”, adding some bouncing levity to the raging thunderstorm of the rhythm guitars. Progressive melodies and softer moments are sprinkled throughout, adding a satisfying contrast to the intensity. In the end, the album fades away with the melancholic strumming of an acoustic guitar.

There is slight variation in the vocals, mainly alternating between deep growls and more blackened shrieks, although some clean vocals also appear on “Over Space And Time”. But, overall, there isn't much noteworthy about the vocals, except for the appearance of female guest vocals during particularly epic moments, creating a supporting chorus on “Path Of Gemini” and somber wails at the climax of “Obsidian Son”.

The true magic lies in the interweaving instrumentation, and this is probably best exemplified on my favorite track “Protocol Zero”, which contains so much catchy tech thrash wizardry that I adore. If albums like Gemini are what we can expect from thrash metal in 2025, then I can't wait for more!