Evile were there to begin the modern thrash metal revival before it even began. Their debut album Enter The Grave was released in 2007, a little before the thrash metal revival really kicked off with Metallica‘s Death Magnetic in 2008 and Slayer‘s World Painted Blood in 2009. However there is no denying their impact on the modern scene outside of the big names of 80s thrash. 8 years have passed since their last album Skull. Now, Evile are back with their latest album Hell Unleashed.
Evile have gone through a transformation since their last release. Former front man Matt Drake left to be replaced by his brother Ol Drake, returning to the band after exiting back in 2013 to take over guitar and vocal duties. RipTide guitarist Adam Smith joined to complete the new look lineup. The easiest way to describe Hell Unleashed is simply; play fast, then play faster, then faster again, keep going until your fingers are worn to the bone, and you’re almost at the pace of this album.
It rivals any thrash album for sheer brutal velocity. This album runs at 41 minutes, which is pretty much par for a typical metal album. However, such is the ferocity laid down, that slowed down to a regular tempo, the album would actually be 375 hours long. A standard laid down by Reign In Blood and still just as destructive almost 4 decades later. Thrash metal set out to take pace to an entirely new stratosphere, and Evile are keeping that trend alive and slaying. I suggest keeping your chiropractor on speed dial if you dare to headband along.
Pace on it’s own, however, is pointless unless used appropriately. The level of technicality on display throughout is remarkable when played as such breakneck speed. The feeling that everything almost feels out of control gives a legitimate thrill to each song. There is also plenty of time to slow down to a mid tempo groove, much in the way Slayer did, to accentuate the speed variation. It can get a little predictable, and there is room to improve here, but still thrilling nonetheless. Incarcerates is straight out of the ‘How To Be Seasons In The Abyss’ handbook. But it is Gore (featuring a guest turn from Brian Posehn) that stands out as the premier track. It feels like the most natural track to bridge the gap from Evile 1.0 to Evile 2.0.
This is but step 1 in the journey of Evile 2.0, and there is certainly room to mature into this more violent outlook the band now represents. But when it starts with Hell Unleashed, an album with the ferocity to literally scrape the skin from your face, who can complain. Pure, unadulterated thrash metal will always have a place amongst the metal masses, and Evile show that there is still punishing fire and fury to be dealt.
Score: 8/10
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