TENSIONS ARISE Once You Hit Play!

Tensions Arise are an Australian band that was brought to my attention by Nekrofeist front man Dave Tinelt. Formed in 2008 by vocalist Kazzy Kage, Tensions Arise formed with the intention to bring life back into a dying metal scene by bringing things back to their original roots. Although this five piece band isn't entirely thrash, elements of the genre can be found throughout the bands music, in fact there isn't much that can't be found on the bands debut EP Welcome...To Sin City. Although the bands influences may be scattered throughout the metal industry, they come together in fantastic form on ...Sin City. Groove laced tracks with harsh vocals that are raw and in your face combine to increase your blood pressure to levels that would alarm any physician. You'll scream your head off until you taste blood and even then you'll continue to scream. Why? Because it's that good, that's why.

If you find yourself drooling just reading about this band then you should really head on over to the Tensions Arise Facebook Page and give a few of their tracks a listen. If your heart doesn't explode from what you hear then you'll be glad to know the band has just finished up recording their second EP with producer Logan Mader (DevilDriver, Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy and most recently Bonded By Blood) in Los Angeles. Having heard the rough demos of the upcoming release it's safe to say that once again your blood pressure will spike, and tensions will arise. If you're an East Coast thrasher  here in the United States then you're in luck, Tensions Arise will be playing in a show in New York this Sunday (May 20th) at Sullivan Hall, so if you're in the area stop by and show these Aussies some love and enjoy the show!

Face The Storm And Listen To DREADFIRE!

It seems that wherever I look these days people are talking about the band Dreadfire and for whatever reason I just never clicked on the bands page. However once I received an email from the band informing me of their recently released EP "Face The Storm" I knew this was a band I needed to check out. After listening to Dreadfire's recent release two things became evident:

1) I'm a total ass for not checking this band out sooner.

2) THIS BAND FUCKING RULES!

These Portuguese thrashers have created nothing short of a modern day ragger with Face The Storm. The album is jam packed with deadly mid-paced riffs that will not only kick your teeth in but leave you with a severe case of whiplash as well. Although that sounds extremely violent, I guarantee you'll enjoy every second of it. Face The Storm is in fact a prime example of an album that is "all killer and no filler," once you hit play it's simply impossible not to bang your head. Even when your neck is sore beyond belief you won't be able to resist the urge to hit play and do it all over again and again and again!

Do yourself a favor and check Dreadfire out over on Facebook and if you're looking for a killer album then be sure to download Face The Storm for FREE at this location!

Are You Read To Be POWERED BY DEATH?!

I love discovering new and exciting bands, my latest discovery was brought to my attention by a tweet on the Global Thrash Assault Twitter account (@GTAssault). Hailing from Quebec Canada Powered By Death are a new band and have just released their debut demo entitled Plug It In earlier this month. After giving listening to this release over and over I'm pretty impressed by what I hear and I have no problem saying Powered By Death have a bright future ahead of them!

Powered By Death get straight to the point on their debut release, Plug It In features four tracks of killer thrash metal. Even though you may not of heard of this band yet trust me when I say you already love them. And how could you not? Powered By Death take an approach to thrash that is a little more modern but features just enough of the old-school to appeal to any thrasher whether they be young or old. Once you hit play the killer riffs, harsh vocals and fantastic leads will cause your head to bang and your body to thrash around involuntary. Plug It In is a demo you're gonna want to hear by a band you need to know about! Listen to this demo once and you won't be abel to stop!

Lucky for you (and thrashers every where) Powered By Death are giving Plug It In away as a free download via their Facebook and ReverbNation Pages so you'll be able to listen to it over and over as many times as you'd like! Just one question remains...what are you waiting for?

BURNING NITRUM Will Set You On Fire!!

There must be something in the water over in Italy. I know I say this a lot but it seems like every time I turn around I discover another killer band from this country, my latest discovery being old-school thrashers Burning Nitrum. Relatively new on the scene Burning Nitrum describe their style of music as "100% Old-School Thrash Metal," and are influenced by thrash legends such as Exodus, Testament, and even Demolition Hammer!

On the bands recently self released debut EP Pyromania, Burning Nitrum show love for their influences without stepping on their icons toes thereby creating an album that is truly original and old-school. Immediately hurling the listener into a war zone with the instrumental track "Enter The Fire" Burning Nitrum fire off riff after impressive riff and throughout Pyromania heads will bang and necks will snap. Even if you could escape the clenches of Burning Nitrum you wouldn't want to. Powerful vocals, thunderous drumming and lightning fast leads will beat you into submission, and you'll enjoy every second of it. Burning Nitrum maybe the new kids on the thrash metal block but on Pyromania the band performs like a group of well seasoned thrash metal vets. With an album that is truly old-school and original Burning Nitrum are a force to be reckoned with and are certainly one to keep an eye on in the future. Your ears will love what they hear however you neck may not enjoy it nearly as much!

OVERALL: 100/100

Check out the video below which features some of the best riffs from Burning Nitrum. If you like what you hear (and how could you not?) then head on over to the bands Facebook page to stay up to date with everything Burning Nitrum!

Let The ENDLESS RECOVERY Begin!

Nothing like some killer thrash to get your blood pumping, am I right? If you're in the mood to rage then might I suggest checking out Greek thrashers Endless Recovery? Straight out of Athens this five piece band has been tearing shit up since 2010 and in March of this year the band released their debut EP entitled "Liar Priest." Featuring five tracks the album starts off with a short and almost psychedelic instrumental called Damned Desires. From then on Endless Recovery really begin to show their love for bands like Slayer, Kreator and Sodom and assault the ear drum some killer leads, aggressive vocals and riffs that serve only one purpose, making your head BANG! Just when you didn't think things could get any better Endless Recovery then throw in a cover of Slayer's Black Magic!

Although still a relatively new band Endless Recovery prove they know how to write some kick ass thrash. If you don't believe me then take a listen to the track "Handicapped Corpse" below and find out for yourself!

In addition to being kick ass Endless Recovery are also extremely active. Currently the band is writing new material AND searching for a label to release a 7" LP in the near future. Be sure stay up to date with all things Endless Recovery by checking the band out on Facebook. While you're there be sure to listen to the bands Liar Priest EP which is streaming in its entirety!

SONIC PULSE Are LAGER THAN LIFE

Early last week I received the following email:

We are a new band featuring members of Razormaze, Skull Hammer, Ravage, and a former member of Vindicator.  We're tying to mix Thrash with Power Metal, and were wondering if you'd like to review our new album, Lager Than Life (Releasing June 1).


After reading the above email I became more excited than a fat kid at a Golden Corral and nearly shit my pants. Skull Hammer and Razormaze are two of my favorite bands in the new wave of thrash and Ravage and Vindicator aren't to shabby either. My expectations were high before hitting play and after listening to the bands debut album "Lager Than Life" they were far exceeded!

Sonic Pulse have created an album that is as addicting as it is fun. I ask you, what could be better than listening to lyrics about drinking beer, listening to metal and zombies that smoke weed? The answer is absolutely nothing! However Sonic Pulse aren't just about funny lyrics, the musicianship on the bands debut album is in fact larger than life. Insane riffs that are catchy as hell and solos that are reminiscent of DragonForce at times, make light speed look like an elderly women driving 20 in a 40 while being executed with deadly precision by the axe attack of Dave R Maze and Mick Mayer.

Perhaps the biggest surprise from Sonic Pulse is the fact that Dan Hammer (who is best known as the drummer of Skull Hammer and Ravage) has stepped away from the behind kit and has moved to the front of the stage as the bands lead vocalist. Although a major transition Mr. Hammer does a fine job and delivers the previously mentioned lyrics (and more) in away that would make you think he's been doing it for years. Rounding out Sonic Pulse is bassist Matt C. Axe who throws down some killer bass lines all the while drummer Joe Bollettiero pounds his kit close to death and then stomps it into submission with his crazy foot work. Simply put every member of Sonic Pulse have performed at the highest caliber delivered the goods in a spectacular manner.

BOTTOM LINE: The members of Sonic Pulse set out to create an album that would be fun to listen to and after hearing Lager Than Life it's safe to say that's exactly what they did.

OVERALL: 95/100


For more on Sonic Pulse be sure to check the band out on Facebook, also be sure to check out some of the bands merchandise including Larger Than Life at this location!

Fire Up The WAR ENGINE!

War Engine are a five piece thrash band from the country of Serbia who will have you banging your head in no time! The information section of War Engine's Facebook page states: "If you want fuckin' thrash, we're the band for you!" After listening to the bands five track demo that was released just last year I have to say: If you want fuckin' thrash, War Engine are the band for you!

Through and through this is a promising demo and the fact that it's the bands debut has me ecstatic. One of the first things that stood out to me was the killer quality on this release which makes this demo sound more like an EP and allows the listener to enjoy every head banging riff War Engine throws your way. Tracks like Chemical Warfare, Civilian Casualties and War Engine are some of my favorite tracks on the demo and each of these tracks will have you pumping your fist and banging your head while circle pitting around your dining room table. High energy and great riffs is what War Engine have set out to deliver and not only has the band delivered these things, they delivered them ahead of schedule and as a result have found themselves a place in the heart of this thrash maniac and once you give them a listen I'm certain they will find a place in yours too!

Check out the track Chemical Warfare below and for more on War Engine and to listen to the bands entire demo head on over to the official War Engine Facebook Page!