Angelus Apatrida

Choosing to release your self-titled album 20 years into your career is quite the statement - one made by a bunch of big names in metal (Flotsam & Jetsam, Obituary, Annihilator...). The problem is that the music really does have to be a statement. Either you're summing up the sound of a well-ridden career, or you're committing to an enormous turnaround in the band's style. Let me just call it right now: Italian ex-thrashers Ultra-Violence will probably do exactly this later on in the year. However, Spanish non-ex-thrashers Angelus Apatrida have done it right here and now, abiding by neither of the above, and instead answering the question "How many necks can we snap in 45 minutes?". I cannot speak for everyone, but I can sincerely answer "One. Mine." More than three full listens through this belter and my spine is crying out for help. Angelus Apatrida brings the pain, the speed, and - most importantly - the riffs.

Among the hordes of Eviles, Warbringers and Havoks that the new wave of thrash metal is keen to big up, Angelus Apatrida stand as one of the unsung heroes. They haven't really disappointed, and they've only minorly experimented. The band is still made up of virtually original members, and here in 2021 they sound urgent, confident and hungry to devour the thrash metal world. Much respect to one of the most cruelly underrated gems of the genre. For newcomers to the band, this self-titled effort makes an excellent starting point. Not only are you getting a superb thrash metal album, but you're hearing the Spaniards at what sounds like the peak of their talents. The production on this monster is perfect; powerful and energetic. Guillermo's vocals are stellar; dishing out vicious growls and gruff semi-cleans which are a joy to sing along with. But most importantly, the songwriting is top notch; switching between simplistic structures to more extensive frameworks without ever compromising their speed metal integrity.

Opening beast "Indoctrinate" exhibits these characteristics with class and vigour. After a small swell of feedback, we're thrown headlong into the madness with a brutish shout-along chorus, mammoth structure, and more riffs than Scott Ian's brain. Speaking of the 'Thrax man, the breakdown at the end is exactly the kind of neck-breaking shit he'd pull! It's clear AA are keen to throw some welcome groove into the mix to get even the most hard-hearted metal fan nodding their head. Some tracks favour this groovy flavour, like the irresistably riffy "Disposable Liberty", and it's exactly the kind of thing I yearn for in my thrash albums. The occasional break from the speedy maelstrom to indulge in a half-time hammering is the glue that sticks me to this record. The best example of this, and my personal favourite moment on the album, is the 3:08 mark in "Through The Glass" - what a fucking steamroller!

The straight thrashers are there in force in the shape of the catchy "We Stand Alone" and the Havok-esque "Age Of Disinformation", but this LP's true strengths lie in its variety, hooky songwriting, tight-as-fuck performances and pure balls-to-the-wall metal attitude. No ballads here motherfuckers! Sure, there are some interesting harmonies in the leads of "Childhood's End", and "Empire Of Shame" might be moderately subdued in comparison, but this really is a consistently excellent effort from a consistently excellent outfit. It's only February and I'm already writing the phrase 'top 10 of the year' far too often. Just a side-effect of being spoiled by so much fantastic music. Great to see Spanish thrash metal is in safe hands and fellow countrymen like Holycide have incredible role models in Angelus Apatrida. Buy this right fucking now.

(Originally written for The Metal Observer)