On April 25, of this year an article on the Website Invisible Oranges declared that the Re-thrash movement (sub-genre if you will?) is dead and never really created a solid foothold in the overall metal movement. I am not sure if I completely agree with the overall conclusion of this article but thrash had definitely hit it’s weaker notes throughout the late 90’s into the mid 2000’s. Anthrax was writing music that moved more into the groove metal arena and even dipped into the grunge sound on a few songs throughout the 90’s. And do we really have to discuss what Metallica was producing in those days? Slayer also moved into a slower groovier style of thrash and Megadeth, well it was Megadeth.
A Band like Municipal Waste was trying to invigorate our need for that strong cross-over thrash sound and doing an admirable job at the time. Havok was reeking just that with their full on thrash sound and carrying the torch of the thrash movement as it were. My problem with the analysis of Mr. Joseph Schafer in the above mentioned article is not that he is wrong or right but didn’t wait for the remainder of 2013 before declaring this sub-genre D.O.A. (coincidentally a great Havok song).
There are currently quite a few thrash bands that have released music this year as well as last year that have re-invigorated the genre in this writer’s opinion. Among them Dust Bolt, Potential Threat SF, Birth AD, and many more that have graced our ears over the last couple of years. I will admit that there are probably more bad thrash bands than there are good but if you love the genre like I do it is not hard to find the really good ones with just a little time and effort.
ALKIRA, a thrash metal band out of Strathalbyn, South Australia (side note: A ton of great metal out of Australia this year right?) have released a four song EP, Red Devil, which showcases a fun and fiery brand of thrash metal that exudes the confidence of a promising thrash band. A band that has been together for 3 years and play like they grew up smack dab in the middle of the thrash invasion of the mid 80’s Southern California scene. I honestly try not to compare new bands I am reviewing to bands from the past but sometimes there really is no choice and ALKIRA has made not doing that difficult.
As I listened to each song on this EP I couldn’t help but notice the familiar sounds of the great thrash bands of my youth, not a carbon copy, more of an influence. In the opening song 'Red Devil' the band gives us a tongue-in-cheek monster of a song about their very own issues with imbibing on too much of their favorite alcoholic beverage. But the mood of it is in the vein of what Anthrax was extremely good at doing throughout their career and that is using this fast and powerful music to have fun and not take everything so seriously. With the terrific galloping beats and riffs the band showcases their abilities from the opening chord. The song 'Hell March' shows us the more serious side of the band but the opening bass riff is one of the finest I have heard in this genre for a while and the band doesn’t waste this energy. Moving into what Metallica did so well in their earlier albums ALKIRA stay with the solid foundation of thrash but allow themselves to explore the up and down rhythms of the song subject and structure. It is an in your face type of thrash song that had me replaying this one over and over again. 'The Nightmare' might as well have come off of an Exodus album as the signature riff of this song is as strong and brutal as anything that Exodus has done. It is a tribute to this band that having only been together for 3 years they have been able to so fluidly encapsulated the great sound of 80’s thrash so well. Finally the closing song 'Masks of the World' really shows off the technical side that this band is capable of. With a subject matter and technicality that would make Dave Mustaine proud, ALKIRA closes out this EP achieving the goal of making this reviewer want more from them, a lot more.
The Re-Thrash movement may be dead to some but not me. If bands like ALKIRA continue to make top-notched thrash like this Red Devil EP then we are in for a long and loving relationship with this band. ALKIRA has proven that in four songs you can showcase what kind of band you can be and your own personality while paying homage to the past. I just hope we don’t have to wait too long for a full length release from these guys.
Until Later, Peace!
