UMUR "Kinetic Closure" is the third full-length studio album by US power/thrash metal act Toxik. The album was released through SubLevel Records in February 2020. It´s the successor to "Think This" from 1989, so it´s been 31 years since the last album was released. Toxik initially existed from 1985-1992, reunited shortly and disbanded again in 2007, and then reunited again in 2013. They released the "In Humanity Pre-release" demo in 2014 and the "Breaking Clas$" EP in 2017, before recording the material on "Kinetic Closure". All material recorded in the 2014-2018 period was then released on the 2018 "III Works" compilation album. So the "Kinetic Closure" album is a re-release of some of the material from "III Works" (disc 3 from that compilation album). As opposed to the new original material featured on the 2014 demo and the 2017 EP, most of the material on "Kinetic Closure" is not new. Toxik have instead opted to re-record 8 tracks from their two 1980s full-length studio albums ("World Circus" (1987) and "Think This" (1989)). "Kinetic Closure" and "No Rest for the Wicked", which bookend the album are new compositions though.

There´s been a lineup change since the "Breaking Clas$" (2017) EP as Ron Iglesias has replaced Charles Sabin (who himself has replaced Mike Sanders not long before). Iglesias has a voice and singing style which is relatively similar to both Mike Sanders and Charles Sabin (how they sound on the material post the 2013 reunion, not their incredibly high pitched 80s selves). Both "Kinetic Closure" and "No Rest for the Wicked" are heavy and intriguing US power/thrash metal tracks and perfectly in line with how the band have sounded like since their 2013 return to the scene.

Re-recording classic material with a contemporary lineup will always divide the waters. Some will think of such an action as sacrilege, while others will enjoy listening to the classic tracks in a more updated sound quality and performed by more seasoned musicians. In this case I think the updated versions sound quite different from the originals, and I´m therefore able to enjoy them without constantly being reminded of the original versions of the tracks. I do prefer the originals over these re-recordings, but I´m able to appreciate these new versions too. It should be noted that the re-recordings were recorded live in the studio with very few studio overdubs, which is quite impressive considering the high level of technical playing and the relatively high complexity of the material.

"Kinetic Closure" a heavy, powerful, and detailed sound production, perfectly suiting the material. Upon conclusion I´d say re-recorded the classic Toxik tracks from the 1980s was a success, and the two new tracks are also quite enjoyable and therefore a 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.