Band:	In Malice's Wake
Album:	The Thrashening
Style:	Thrash metal
Release date:	April 2011
Guest review by:	R'Vannith

01. Endless Possession
02. Evil By Design
03. Onslaught
04. Fuel For The Fire
05. The Crawling Chaos
06. Join Us And Fight
07. No Escape
08. Nuclear Shadow

Turns out thrash isn't dead after all, and it's a lot closer to home than I would have expected. Hailing from Australia, In Malice's Wake has been in existence for 10 years now and rather ashamedly it was not until recently that I became aware of the band. What we have here in their second full length, The Thrashening, is surely one of the finest Australian examples of the genre in recent years. In a short but oh so sweet barrage of addictive tracks the band shows with determined conviction that thrash can still be played like in the genre's Golden Age.

Wasting no time the album is straight to the point, delivering the catchy goods which exhibit the undeniable proficiency of the band. They are in top form here, each member contributing 100% of their efforts to each short burst of thrashing intensity. The guitar and bass work is poised, as are the drums in the hands of the talented Mark Farrugia. The vocals of Shaun Farrugia are certainly distinctive with their death tinge and seem perfectly fitting for the album's rapid pace.

While not being revolutionary in terms of offering a highly original piece of thrash, it is an album that hammers you with exactly what you would expect, yet it does so very convincingly. Each track is crafted with expertise that keeps you attentive to every moment of the album. The fact that the album is somewhat short, being just over the 30 minute mark, is a considerable drawback as it leaves the keen thrasher wanting more. Luckily, though, there is nothing here which fails to grab the attention of the listener, each element will hook you from beginning to end.

A few standout tracks are the album opener "Endless Possession," the breakneck "Evil By Design," "Onslaught," perhaps the finest example of the prowess of the guitarist's, "The Crawling Chaos," and the absolutely stunning "No Escape." But no track fails to engage after repeated listens, each providing memorable hooks that keep the listener coming back for more.

The Thrashening is strongly recommended for Thrash fans looking for a rejuvenated remnant of yesteryear which isn't your average carbon copy but actually relives some of that past glory and pummels you into the ground in the process.