Condemned to Extinction

The name TumourBoy is the most attention-grabbing aspect of this Chinese thrashing unit. By far. Musically, not a single thing about this group will cause anyone but the most fanatical thrash diehards to take notice. As is often the case with albums from rethrash bands that are as late to the party as TumourBoy, which was formed in 2014, Condemned to Extinction is an energetic romp that's fun in the moment but doesn't make any attempt at distinguishing itself from other, more essential releases in the band's chosen genre.

As is absolutely essential in thrash metal, the performances here are fiery and energetic. The guitarists mainly stick to full throttle barrages and midpaced riffs that effectively build the tension before a solo or a faster thrashing stampede comes crashing through the speakers. The drums, meanwhile, follow along capably but won't catch your ear. The bass is highly noticeable in the mix but doesn't add much to the songs, rattling or rumbling unobtrusively just beneath the surface most of the time. Vocalist Jiashu brings more maniacal energy to his performance than any of his bandmates, snarling and barking with unchecked fury. While his passion and raw delivery lend this album a lot of power, there are some parts that would have been better if he'd dialed back the extremity. He exerts himself too much from time to time, particularly in 'Acid Rain', where he seems to shriek to the point of damaging both his vocal chords and a listener's eardrums. While TumourBoy's music doesn't contain an abundance of catchy or creative rhythms, it is a fun, if superficial experience.

Just about every modern thrash metal band can be summed up by listing the thrash bands they sound like the most and TumourBoy is no different. These guys can essentially be thought of as Exodus fronted by Pat Lind from Morbid Saint with frequent Anthrax-style gang shouts. TumourBoy puts a lot of effort into replicating the sound and aesthetic of the 80s thrash metal underground and their facsimile is about as close to perfect as it could be expected to get. From the sharp guitar tone to the rough but vivid production to the continuous barrage of riffs ranging from mid-paced to fast, this homage to the band's thrashing forbears is spot-on in terms of copying that 80s underground metal zeitgeist. That is both the album's greatest strength and its kryptonite. This is rousing stuff that carries you right along and makes it difficult to stay still. But as much fun as these riffs may be, they don't stick with you. Like creamed corn, the songs just pass through while providing almost no nutritional value. For a quick, exciting dose of thrash, Condemned to Extinction does the trick but, loaded as it is with 'been-there-done-that' songwriting, doesn't provide anything you can't get from dozens of other sources.