Mass Produced Perfection

Metal and Greece is always a fine combination, so whenever I see an album from this country popping up I am going to take notice. Across all sub-genres Greek metal has just an astonishingly high quality standard. Even when a completely act like Typhus enters the stage the result is just great. These thrashers are no completely newbies though, as each of them has been active in other bands and projects as well. Their debut full length “Mass Produced Perfection” is a prime example of thrash metal combining some of the best elements of old and new. The goal of Typhus has nothing to do with reinventing the circle, but look at the past and learn from it, to build further upon the fundamentals the great masters of the genre have laid.

The guitar players Kostas and Socrates cleverly combine chords from the glory 80s/90s and a slightly modernized variation of this particular style. This works great as the band’s sound should please each fan of the classics, but also offers a certain level of freshness. Typhus have taken influences from both the classic US but also the European school. The lead guitar harmonies are permanently pitched against the driving main riffs, lending the whole music a highly melodic and ultimately uplifting character. The galloping riffs are accompanied by some nicely implemented lead soloing sections, often breaking up the high tempo. The bass shines through and adds another layer to the music.

The drumming is absolutely precise and nailed on, following the main patterns of each song and highlighting several sections where an extra portion of intensity is needed. Dimitris has a great feeling for throwing in some nice fills etc., and while there are quite a few tempo changes and the music is more complex than one might think after the initial listen nothing feels too complicated or overly headed. In the end this is music that should get the blood of the listener rushing and lift the mood. Typhus do not fall into the trap of losing themselves in redundant wankery or choosing to implement too many rhythm changes and therefore risking to lose the listener’s interest. Instead they use such small and well placed interludes to keep things fresh, but overall the songs are tight and on point. Check out e.g. one of my favorite tracks here “Asylum of Deviants”, where they show the whole range of their talent.

Singer Kostas uses a quite high-pitched approach, and while I needed a bit to get used to it this further helps the band enforcing their own DNA. His vocals just fit to the instrumentation like a glove, and his slightly hysterical delivery works great in combination with the driving rhythms and the often catchy chorus parts. His singing technics are top notch, and he hits all the right notes. The production is stellar as well, very clear and punchy, but not too modern. There is enough dirt left in the sound to keep old school fans happy, and the mix is not too synthetic or compressed. The cover artwork is awesome, classic but not as cheesy or childish as what is often used in this genre. Something similar can be said about the lyrics, which are surprisingly multi-faceted and serious. The album has been released by Punishment 18, who have been responsible for a lot of top thrash/speed/power metal records in the past, so that alone tells something about the quality of “Mass Produced Perfection”. Do not sleep on this album, go and check it out!