Hell's Thrash Horsemen-...till Violence

Always at war
2009

In the recent years of thrash revival there have been many bands attempting to resurrect the 80's sound. The results are varied and unfortunately too many acts feel content to just slap out thrash without adding any of their own ideas. Then there are a few bands who use the established sound as a spring board and actually manage to add enough touches of their own. Despite the ridiculous band name "Hells Thrash Horsemen" actually fall in that second category. This Russian band pull in a vast number of influences including Exodus, Testament, Nuclear Assault, Whiplash, Destructor and others. That's nothing new, but where they excel is in the oftentimes loose yet brutal attack. They further increase their attack by putting on layers of thick of heavy riffs. The production compliments their sound as it is amazingly sharp. The vocals are gruff, loud and to the point. Hell's Thrash Horsemen possess a certain confidence that comes through in every track. Too often I have heard recent thrash acts push out by the book thrash, but these guys have the skills and ideas necessary to go their own route. There are six originals each with their own individual sound. They close with a cover of Testament's "The Preacher" in which they put their own touches to it in a fantastic version of a song they obviously enjoyed doing. The only complaint I had about this album was that it was only seven songs and it ended just as I was really getting into it. So hopefully a full length will be on the horizon. Certainly one of the better thrash albums I have heard this year.

www.myspace.com/hellsthrashhorsemen