2017 promises to be a landmark year for Thrash metal. With records from KREATOR, OVERKILL, HAVOK, and WARBRINGER coming soon this promises to be one of those years where we look back and say, “Whoa! How the hell did we survive all this great thrashiness?!?” In the meantime I’d like to introduce you to a band of relative newcomers. Everyone? This is TERRIFIER. TERRIFIER? This is everyone. The latest signing to Test Your Metal Records, the group is set to release their new album Weapons of Thrash Destruction on January 20 and it is an old school thrash cocktail designed to blow a hole right through the bulkhead.
Made up of Chase Thibodeau (vocals), Rene Wilkinson and Brent Gallant (guitars), Kyle Sheppard (drums), and Alexander Giles (bass) the Vancouver, B.C. boys play an unapologetic style of metal that will knock your socks off, starting with opener “Reanimator.” If you’re old enough to remember this music back in say, 1987, then you’ll love this track. Riffs that cut through you, crazy ripping solos, and high-octane drumming, combined with vintage-style vocals make for one helluva trip back in time, one that only continues with “Deceiver.” This track shows Thibodeau flexing his vocal muscles over a music and drum pattern that’s downright chaotic.
“Nuclear Demolisher” has that mid-tempo double bass thing going on for about two minutes before it shifts into sixth gear and hauls ass, then comes to rest on easily the best guitar solo work on this whole disc. “Violent Reprisal” has a pounding riff and some killer screams, while “Drunk As Fuck” should have most of hoisting a beer and throwing back shots the minute we get home from work on a Friday (I’m several shots in as I write this!). And while lyrically it’s not breaking any new ground it’s still a fun tune. “Bestial Tyranny” takes all the elements of tr00 Thrash Metal and just runs it into the endzone. This was definitely a favorite track.
On the other hand I wasn’t wild about “Skitzoid Embolism”, but that’s okay. They can’t all be winners. And speaking of winners, closer “Sect of the Serpent” is arguably the finest moment on Weapons of Thrash Destruction. From start to finish this tune is nothing but net with power and riffs for days. So when all is said and done TERRIFIER have done very well with this album, and I think we’re gonna be hearing their name a lot in the years to come. Here’s hoping they get good support slots on some big metal tours in 2017 so the masses can get a taste of what these guys have to offer live. In the meantime, I highly recommend this record, y’all!!
STANDOUT TRACKS: “Sect of the Serpent”, “Reanimator”, Bestial Tyranny”, “Nuclear Demolisher”
RATING: 9/10
