Metal Redux

Metal Redux: Destruction – Live Without Sense (1989)

Why would I include Destruction as part of Metal Redux, you may ask? One of the so called Big 4 of Teutonic Thrash. Surely everyone knows Destruction? Its a great question, as this titan of thrash metal has been kicking around for 37 years. And with 14 albums, several EPs, and two anthem re-recordings of their classics, I am sure many of you know them, as well as their best tunes. […]

Metal Redux

Metal Redux: Sabbat – History of a Time to Come (Thrash Metal)

When something sounds evil, it has the ability to draw you in and although you may fear what is to come, you cannot help but to listen on. I remember the 1st time I heard Sabbat. It was in 1988, and their album History of a Time to Come (HOATTCC) had just been released, and I was listening on a the Sunday night to the once-a-week underground metal radio show called Metal For Melbourne. The song was A Cautionary Tale (the intro), and much like Bathory’s Storm of Damnation, or Slayer’s Hell Awaits, I knew that I was listening to something special. […]

2020 Albums

Album Review: Sepultura – Quadra 8 (Thrash Metal)

Sepultura has always been a staple in metal, particularly thrash metal, since their conception in the early 1980’s where they were the sound of metal in Brazil and among the few who could compete with the metal scene growing – maybe even unproportionally – in the world-renowned Bay Area, with such acts as Exodus, Metallica, Testament, Death Angel, Megadeth and Blind Illusion. The original line-up of the band, with Cavalera Brothers, is still highly idolized and their work is often deemed superior to the more recent offerings of the band. I, admittedly, was one such person. Well I was until I heard this new release. I’m not saying The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart and Machine Messiah were inherently weak performances, I’m just saying this work is a cut above them. […]

2020 Albums

Album Review: Comaniac – “Holodox” 9/10 (Thrash Metal)

Welly well well, if it isn’t the second thrash album I’ve liked in the last year. This is an exceptional album where the guitars speak eloquent paragraphs while the vocals provide badass lines. There’s a lot of time for the guitars on this album and they’re more on the technical side of thrash which basically a requirement for me to enjoy it. I believe this is also bolstered by the fact that production was done by Tommy Vetterli who has also worked with Coroner – one of the few thrash bands I listen to. Due out on the 3rd of April and independently, to my surprise. […]

2019 Albums

Album Review: Cruentus – “Fake” 8.7/10 (Death/Thrash)

This is just the month of Italy for Noob Heavy, this is like the 4th Italian metal band I’ve covered in the last month and the quality has been superb each time across many genres. This time around I’m covering one of Italy’s veteran bands, Cruentus, who have been making music with various lineups since 1989, which is a year longer than I’ve been alive. Their new album Fake, is their first LP since In Myself in 1996 so a lot of people are excited for this long awaited return. Well, I’m happy to say this is the first thrash album I’ve enjoyed in a long time. […]

2019 Albums

Album Review: Crusadist – “The Unholy Grail” 7/10 (Death/Thrash)

A solid name combining the ideas of violent holy crusades and pure human sadism, Crusadist are a Chicago based death metal band with a helping of thrash influence. Their debut LP The Unholy Grail is generally a modern style of death metal but with the old school thrash metal hooks. It’s here that people may divide, depending on how they feel about thrash metal in general, personally I find it to be a stagnant genre that brings a lot of repetition to this album. Others may say it brings more groove to the album. In reality, it’s likely to be somewhere in between with the solid mixing and recording evening it all out. It’s an interesting album either way and a hearty independent release, check out the new lyric video for the track “For Blood And Conquest” below. The Unholy Grail drops on black friday 2019 (29th November). […]