Surprises abound on the most recent offering from Catalyst, and we’re all the better off as a result. A Different Painting For A New World, the French tech-death savants’ sophomoric full-length, attains a modicum of catchiness without feeling tacky or forced. In fact, the album is as layered as the members’ hair-dos. Over the course of an hour, the record is jam-packed with elegantly bunker-busting, dense hatred; eclectic, titanic technical soloing; and a rage and pugilism that is turned up to 11. Worms And Locusts is, quite frankly, super sexy in its arrangements. The Last Warning even sees introductory soloing which then evolves into acoustic and bass guitar gymnastics.
The standout track of A Different Painting… is To Unleash Thy Heinous Fate. It’s a straight barrage of ferocity which mellows out with backing vocals and chanting. Though the drums then increase into a groovy headbanger before shredding once more bursts to the forefront. It’s satisfying while also being massive. And despite the quasi-grammatical error, Arise Of The Anathema works its ass off to contain all the hatred and penchant for violence the track possesses. If Unique Leader Records is the benchmark for technical death metal, Catalyst have certainly thrown in Non Serviam’s hat when it comes to that discussion. Aptly named Jules Kicka generates chaos with their guitar and guttural ecstasy with their harsh vocals.
Only three years removed from their debut full-length, Catalyst have no desire to slow down or let up. A Different Painting For A New World provides 10 songs of adrenaline-fueled, balls-to-the-wall technical death metal. 8/10
Sudden Deaf - Havoc (Self Released) [Rich Piva]
A NWOBHM inspired thrash band with stoner rock leanings? Yes please! That is what I hear when I listen to the debut album from Austin, Texas boys Sudden Deaf. Havoc is six tracks of excellent metal in its best 2022 form, leveraging a good amount of what is being peddled by bands today across a few different genres for what is one of the best debut records of the year.
Havoc opens strong with some riffs on the track Goin Down, and then gallops over your corpse with a thrashy and somehow stoner vibe that manages to sound like it was recording in 1982. The guitars while heavy riffing also tend to travel to some psych realms, all the while kicking your ass. Oh, the shredding! The tone on this one is off the charts. I love the vocals too…now I am gushing. The louder the better for this one. The second track is where you pick up more of those stoner vibes, until next thing you know you think you are listening to Diamond Head. Another killer solo (or two) on this track. I get some Witchfinder General vibes from these guys too, but a guitar virtuoso version because the Sudden Deaf guys can absolutely shred.
Sudden Deaf - Havoc (Self Released) [Rich Piva]
A NWOBHM inspired thrash band with stoner rock leanings? Yes please! That is what I hear when I listen to the debut album from Austin, Texas boys Sudden Deaf. Havoc is six tracks of excellent metal in its best 2022 form, leveraging a good amount of what is being peddled by bands today across a few different genres for what is one of the best debut records of the year.
Havoc opens strong with some riffs on the track Goin Down, and then gallops over your corpse with a thrashy and somehow stoner vibe that manages to sound like it was recording in 1982. The guitars while heavy riffing also tend to travel to some psych realms, all the while kicking your ass. Oh, the shredding! The tone on this one is off the charts. I love the vocals too…now I am gushing. The louder the better for this one. The second track is where you pick up more of those stoner vibes, until next thing you know you think you are listening to Diamond Head. Another killer solo (or two) on this track. I get some Witchfinder General vibes from these guys too, but a guitar virtuoso version because the Sudden Deaf guys can absolutely shred.
Raging Storm is another killer track that has some serious Ride The lightning era Metallica vibes to it, but whatever they are doing to their guitars works so well and makes this unique (can you tell I have no idea about playing guitar? Like zero, except I know what I think sounds awesome and different and this is that…) Headhunter is right back to late 70s/early 80s England and they execute perfectly. There is a thrashy gallop to this one to as they sing “I’m coming for your head, pretty soon you’ll all be dead…” Just excellent. I love the twin guitar work on this one too. The one-minute acoustic interlude Dusk leads us to the final track, City In The Sea, which is more NWOBHM worship and has an early Metallica feel, with a killer second half where the boys just go off.
Sudden Deaf may have the released the metal debut of the year with Havoc. It is what I have been looking for in a metal record. The sound, the production, the shredding, this record is what I want my metal to sound like in 2022. Yes, it borrows from some other eras, but the execution for a debut is near perfect and it has something for every metalhead to enjoy. I love this. 9/10
Rhythm Of Fear - Fatal Horizons (MNRK Heavy) [Richard Oliver]
Fatal Horizons is the second full-length album from Florida thrashers Rhythm Of Fear. Formed in 2010, they are a four-piece from Jacksonville and have a prior album as well as a couple of EP’s to their name who revel in and pay homage to the thrash metal and crossover thrash of yesteryear.
Cited by the band as a thrashier album with less of the hardcore influences that were prevalent on prior releases, Fatal Horizons is some rifftastic straightforward thrash. Rhythm Of Fear cites some more obscure bands as influences rather than the obvious thrash choices with old school acts such as Sanctuary, Sacrifice, Cyclone Temple, Forced Entry and Slammer being name checked as influences so it’s clear that these guys know how to thrash and it clearly shows in neck-wrecking songs such as Obsolescence, Self Destructive Brain, Alien Synthesis and the title track. The band are rhythmically tight as hell which always helps with thrash and the album benefits from a crisp and punchy production and mix.
Whilst it is a very straightforward thrash album it is maybe just that little bit too straightforward with little in the way of variation and the songs all being quite repetitive. Fatal Horizons also four annoying interlude songs spread across the album which don’t really add anything and just interrupt the flow and act as padding. Apart from these minor criticisms, Fatal Horizons is a very solid and entertaining thrasher which will appeal to those who love their 80’s thrash. 7/10
Erja Lyytinen - Waiting For The Daylight (Tuohi Records) [Matt Bladen]
Finnish blues artist Erja Lyytinen recorded this album in her native Helsinki in the first half of 2022, in between her touring schedule, she took time to go on a journey of self discovery, along with bassist Tatu Black, drummer Iiro Laitinen and keyboardist Harri Taittonen. Waiting For The Daylight is her most personal album yet exploring love, loss and heartbreak, even revenge. Take a song such as Last Girl which deals with her childhood bullying, charged through her distinct vocal style and some more experimental guitar playing moving her blues rock to the fringes, into a bit of NWOBHM style playing, Erja mixing up the sounds here.
Sudden Deaf may have the released the metal debut of the year with Havoc. It is what I have been looking for in a metal record. The sound, the production, the shredding, this record is what I want my metal to sound like in 2022. Yes, it borrows from some other eras, but the execution for a debut is near perfect and it has something for every metalhead to enjoy. I love this. 9/10
Rhythm Of Fear - Fatal Horizons (MNRK Heavy) [Richard Oliver]
Fatal Horizons is the second full-length album from Florida thrashers Rhythm Of Fear. Formed in 2010, they are a four-piece from Jacksonville and have a prior album as well as a couple of EP’s to their name who revel in and pay homage to the thrash metal and crossover thrash of yesteryear.
Cited by the band as a thrashier album with less of the hardcore influences that were prevalent on prior releases, Fatal Horizons is some rifftastic straightforward thrash. Rhythm Of Fear cites some more obscure bands as influences rather than the obvious thrash choices with old school acts such as Sanctuary, Sacrifice, Cyclone Temple, Forced Entry and Slammer being name checked as influences so it’s clear that these guys know how to thrash and it clearly shows in neck-wrecking songs such as Obsolescence, Self Destructive Brain, Alien Synthesis and the title track. The band are rhythmically tight as hell which always helps with thrash and the album benefits from a crisp and punchy production and mix.
Whilst it is a very straightforward thrash album it is maybe just that little bit too straightforward with little in the way of variation and the songs all being quite repetitive. Fatal Horizons also four annoying interlude songs spread across the album which don’t really add anything and just interrupt the flow and act as padding. Apart from these minor criticisms, Fatal Horizons is a very solid and entertaining thrasher which will appeal to those who love their 80’s thrash. 7/10
Erja Lyytinen - Waiting For The Daylight (Tuohi Records) [Matt Bladen]
Finnish blues artist Erja Lyytinen recorded this album in her native Helsinki in the first half of 2022, in between her touring schedule, she took time to go on a journey of self discovery, along with bassist Tatu Black, drummer Iiro Laitinen and keyboardist Harri Taittonen. Waiting For The Daylight is her most personal album yet exploring love, loss and heartbreak, even revenge. Take a song such as Last Girl which deals with her childhood bullying, charged through her distinct vocal style and some more experimental guitar playing moving her blues rock to the fringes, into a bit of NWOBHM style playing, Erja mixing up the sounds here.
Having been brought up on classic rock, these influences shine through on Waiting On The Daylight, from the country picking of lead single Bad Seed, to the swaggering riffs of the title track, there's a spectrum of rock n roll. While Erja does evolve her blues rock, there's still a lot classic bluesing, Never Really Had You is a smoky bar ballad with a tonne of Hammond organ. Waiting For The Daylight brings new strings to Erja Lyytinen's bow with You Talk Dirty full of rock n roll lust and Love Bites feeling like Liza Minelli. It's a soul searching album with a sprawling influences well worth your time 7/10
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