Thrasherwolf
Inside The Sickened Mind
Vicious Witch Records
Released: 10/4/2024
7.5/10
Born under a full moon in the UK Thrasherwolf offer up a fine blend of oldschool thrash with just enough of a modern touch to give the thrash scene a demented dose of riff infused attitude driven by a fine bunch of musicians.
Opener FINAL ACT OF AGGRESSION leaps out at your throat with it's Kreator type vibe and angry riffs ripping into your aural senses leaving you with little doubt that a violent onslaught is underway. Full of riffs and gallops this is a full on thrash onslaught. GBH (GRATUITOUS BODILY HARM) is next up to batter your ears and has a great catchy chorus which will no doubt be battering around in your head after you've heard this song, the vocal delivery reminds me in deliverance but not in sound of Exodus the song itself has aside from the hooks in the chorus some solid riffing and grooves.
HANGING HOUSE enters the frenzy next with it's speed fuelled intro riff again reminding me of Kreator, the vocals are spat out by Guitarist/Vocalist Daniel Lucas. I like the structure of this song with some nice tight riffs and some great open chords that open up the song like a knife would open up your throat. I must point out that the production on this album is excellent, every instrument is heard and really allows these talented guys to shine.
SCREAM TIL DEATH follows with its Exodus vibe again in the verses and riffing. Bassist Raimond Dobelis ensures that he disembowels the listeners with his low end riff towards the end of this song. SHAMELESS LOSER enters the fray next and for me this is one of the weaker songs on the album, I didn't enjoy the cheesy chorus, but that's just me. The song itself is driven by some vicious riffs and has an ending that beat downs hard and is sure to get a pit going when played live.
CONSUMED batters its way into the arena next with it's Nuclear Assault type vibe for the opening riffs verses, it's that nasty bass sound that reminds me of Nuclear Assault holding the riffs down. The song lifts in the last quarter into a more thrashy assault. With it's clean intro and almost Unforgiven type melody HAUNTED offers some respite, Once this song gets going it had an old school Maiden feel to it. Each to their own, but again this song really didn't do it for me, that's not to say it bad it's just not a style of song that I enjoy and I tend to skip or avoid these songs in general.
INSIDE THE SICKENED MIND returns the thrash assault and brings all the good points that Thrasherwulf have in their impressive arsenal. The atmospheric clean part of this song allows the title track to portray the sickened mind that is mentioned having a MAIDENESQUE feel to it in style and the guitar melodies whilst being put through the blender with Kreator. Overall this is a very impressive band and there are a few minor points that I feel weaken on, but otherwise promising debut album from this band. Whilst Mr LUCAS does a great job here I would like to hear a bit more aggression in his vocal delivery especially when the songs are thrashing out. I hear a lot of good things in this bands offering and I believe that they will definitely improve as they gig more and start to write the next album, stamping more of their own identity onto future material.
Overall a very impressive album albeit it with some minor frailties that are just my observations and opinions and I would urge people who like some old school thrash with a splash of new school to check this band out and make their own minds up.
A very solid 7.5 / 10.
Meathook Mike, HMS