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Power Trip > Power Trip > Reviews
Power Trip - Power Trip

where power trip really gets their shit together - 85%

flexodus, December 18th, 2016

Power Trip is one of the those modern hardcore bands it’s ok for metalheads to like, because boy howdy do they know how to write a killer thrash riff. Their old stuff is well and good, but was lacking in real bite and had a bit too much of a typical “happythrash” vibe to really make me lose my shit over. Armageddon Blues has a significant rock-ish approach to hardcore/thrash, but lacks the personality that bands like War Hungry and Twitching Tongues used to make that sort of sound work.

But on their self-titled 7” EP (and the early version of “Hammer of Doubt” on the 2010 Triple B comp), all that changes. Sure, the intro riffset of “Divine Apprehension” still uses that “thrash on normal-setting” feeling, but the production is much heavier, replacing the glassy tone of their first EP with something meatier, drenched in reverb. The song kicks into gear at 1:06, and you’ll recognize the hallmarks of Manifest Decimation: fast furious riffing like they’ve never attempted before, subtle changes in the choppy riff pattern between different parts of the verse, and a crushing breakdown accompanied by the WOOSH of a thousand hardcore kids viciously windmilling in retribution. “Divine Apprehension” also introduces their habit for delightful Slayer-worship guitar solos, probably the most memorable examples of this style I’ve heard. Amelodic and noisy, but still exciting and climatic enough to warrant inclusion. Pretty amusing to think guitarist Blake Ibanez is also killing it in a much more melodic epic USPM band, Eternal Champion.

“Suffer No Fool” is even faster at parts, but again settles into a confident midpaced bulldozer of a mosh riff. From this point on, “crushing mosh chug” and “blistering fiery thrash” are the only settings this band has, and it’s all for the better. You’ll also catch your first glimpse of Power Trip’s immense talent in the field of gang shouts; the timing and delivery of SUFFER NO FOOL is too satisfying for words. The Prong cover is pretty good too, but doesn’t really live up to the original songs here. They play it about as well as you could play a fucking Prong track, but the lack of a really fast part to contrast the merely ok slower riffs reduces its staying power. “Crossbreaker”, this is not.

So yeah, this is the first Power Trip record worth getting. Manifest Decimation is one of the best hardcore and metal albums of 2013, and has gotten a lot of worthwhile praise. But that doesn’t mean “Divine Apprehension” and “Suffer No Fool” should become “the lost PT tracks”. They are a perfect complement to the debut, and it’s clear that they stepped up to a much heavier and darker sound after Armageddon Blues. Hold on to your butts when Nightmare Logic drops, and expect to get kicked in the head if you see this band.