Infernal Thrashing Holocaust

Japan's Fastkill, who have been putting out pure thrash demos since 1996, finally released their first album in late 2004.

Production is very nice, that 80's sound with a fresh coat of paint. Drums sounds crisp, guitars are sharp and pummelling, the lead vocals and gang chants sound great. The gang chants sound particularily venomous. The bass fills out the guitar sound very, very nicely, but isn't drowned out at all. Impressive.

Musicianship is excellent, the arrangements are very well thought out and flow very naturally. Excellent, creative drumming, (and as a drummer myself) I can appreciate the creativeness of the fills as they aren't generic sounding, and often don't start/stop where you think they would. Vocals are very unique, and remind me of Mille from Kreator. Some nice guitar solos thrown in too. Oh and the riffs fucking crush, catchy catchy catchy! Very heavy German influences here.

The album opens with "Torture Inception," which starts as a creepy mood-setting spoken word (in Latin?) intro that turns into a chugging, churning instrumental thrasher that builds and builds. Great way to start the album!My favourite song is "Sense of Ignorance." Check out the perfectly executed ride out...Now THAT is how you end a thrash song folks. Every song has something that hooks you and forces you to smash your head against the floor/table/cat.

It's a modern thrash metal album with riffs untainted by groove/half thrash influence, and the production is great, it doesn't sound anything like The Haunted or At The Gates etc. This MAY be my favourite thrash album of all time..just fucking brain meltingly awesome.

addendum: I can attest to these guys crushing live, (they play some godly covers of "Toxic Trace" and "Agents of Steel") so if they start to play shows abroad or you're in Japan, a) buy neck brace b) go see them!