Mortillery-Origin of Extinction

Napalm Records
2013

If you ever hear someone complain that real thrash is dead be sure to point them in the direction of Canada's Mortillery. "Origin of Extinction" is pure thrash. No additives or artificial ingredients to be found here. I first heard of this band when I covered their "Murder Death Kill" album. While that album was good this new LP finds the band making huge strides. If you want to hear proof then simply listen to the album's instrumental  opener, "Battle March", where the band goes full-steam ahead into technical thrash that wouldn't be out of place on either "Ride The Lightning" or "Master Of Puppets". From there the band ends up going all in. In doing so the band, lead by the talented Cara McCutchen, ends up finding their own voice in a overcrowded field of imitators and retro thrash-loving newbies. The band still owes their existence to bands like Exodus, Anthrax, Metallica and Death Angel, but it's more like they listened to the greats, learned a few new tricks, and set about thrashing the crap out of the competition! There's no sophomore slump to be found anywhere here. One of my favorite cuts was "Seen in Death". Here you have this headbanging number that is not only thrash with all the fixings (It reminded me a bit of Slayer crossed with Lääz Rockit), but again it just comes off better then a lot that is supposed to pass for "thrash" these days. This album could end up getting passed by due to it's album art (while I dig it myself I could see others taking one look and skipping it out of fear that it was more "retro-thrash"), but that would be a tragedy. Mortillery is thrash metal for thrash metal fans and "Origin of Extinction" showcases a young band getting better with each new release. Fans of  late 80's/early 90's thrash should appreciate this album. Hopefully what this five-piece band has done on album number two will simply keep repeating on album number three, number four and so on. Don't passe this one up folks.

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Mortillery-Murder Death Kill

Napalm Records
2012

Edmonton, Alberta act Mortillery was formed in 2009, releasing a self-titled EPa year later. "Murder Death Kill" (soothing title eh?) is the band's full-length debut then and judging by the band's name, album title and album artwork you just know this is going to be heavy right? The band is lead by (ex? current?) Minax front lady Cara McCutchen and play plain and simple, yet never boring mind you, thrash. Not modern thrash or really retro thrash for that matter. No, this is just "thrash". Odd way to put it I know and yet these five (Cara, another woman and three guys) play simple & effective thrash metal with more than enough grit to punish anyone who might dare oppose their sonic annihilation. For reference sake you could suggest that Exodus, Lääz Rockit, Heathen, early Death Angel, Vio-Lence, Anthrax and Forbidden helped shape their sound, but it does not come off as mere retro-worship unlike a lot of modern thrash bands. It also does not stuff any other influences into the mix like metalcore, death or black metal. It's just 10 tracks of face-ripping thrash from a band that is good, but has room to grow. This is a worthwhile pick-up if your a thrash freak no doubt. Don't fret that the band is fronted by a woman either. I'm not sure why anyone would be bothered by that anyway since more and more front women are taking the scene by storm, but I know some old-fashioned thrash fans are still put off by the thought. Me? No way and bands like Mortillery prove that thrash can sound good no matter who is behind the mic. Cara does a slamtastic (is that really a word?) job leading this young band and with some time to mature Mortillery could end up a real force to be reckoned with.