Killing Season

Fine, this was a shit load of experimentation especially in the incorporation of funk. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Funny, that didn't even get to me in the slightest bit and unlike most thrash acts that where released last year, I have listened to this album more times than I care to remember. I'll tell u one more thing, its cause of this kind of stuff (the funk) that makes this album what it is-an exciting, thrash attack of 2008. Lets just back up a bit and realize the magnitude of that statement.What I am actually saying is I prefer this to Testament's Formation for Damnation, Destruction's D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N and other smaller names that released awesome thrash records last year (Hexen, Torture Squad, Toxic Holocaust, Guillotine etc, etc)

Songs like ‘Lord of Hate’, ‘Sonic Beatdown’, ‘Carnival Justice’, ‘Steel the Crown ’,‘ Soulless’ and ‘God vs. God’ underline my interest in this record There’s really nothing special about this album only that unlike most thrash artists-Death Angel have decided to keep it simple and funky. Of course songs like ‘Lord of Hate’ and ‘Sonic Beatdown’ will certainly pass the litmus test for "Pure fuckin' thrash" acts with the later destined to becoming some kind of thrash anthem. However, Killing Season also contains songs that can pretty much hold their own in ‘Carnival Justice’, which by the way, is my favorite on this record and also has the most ridiculous bass-line ever conjured up on a thrash record; ‘God vs. God’, which has this almighty groovy feel that is impossible to get enough of and then the mother of all ridiculous-ness. ‘Steal the Crown’. Fuck me; the bass intro is nothing short of awesome. Then, the funky bass line at the chorus from around 1:30 to 1:50 is some of the most enjoyable pieces of shit I listened to last year.

On about half the songs, the guitarist pretty much goes unnoticed and only comes alive during the Solos. That, folks, is the biggest downer to this album. The riff writing prior to the solos leaves a lot to be desired and to be quite honest; one can hardly remember any stand out riff on Killing Season apart from the ones on 'Lord of Hate' and 'Sonic Beatdown'. Seriously, on a couple of songs that he should have stood out like on ‘Carnival Justice’, ‘Steal the Crown’ and ‘God vs. God’, he’s busy being butt whipped by his bassist. Of course, that normally wouldn't be a problem only that this is a thrash record...its supposed to be riff driven!!

Special mention goes to Galeon-the drummer, who is no longer with the band, for his exceptional work on ‘Lord of Hate’, ‘Sonic Beatdown’ and ‘Resurrection Machine’...and Osegueda-the vocalist who vaguely reminds me of Anthrax's Joey Belladonna. Like I said before, this aint Pure Fuckin' Thrash but it’s Thrash capable of giving u a sore eye and bloody nose...