Time Signature Masters of thrash...

Genre: thrash metal

"Mass Confusion" is the third outing by the German thrash band Dust Bolt and the follow-up to the critically acclaimed "Awake the Riot" from 2014.

So, does this third album hold up? Yes, it does. From the crossover-inspired opening track 'Sick X Brain' to 'Masters of War' which concludes the album, the album is one barrage of awesome thrash riffage after another. As with the previous two albums, this album has a retro feel to it without being hopelessly old-fashioned, and there is plenty of variation in terms of thrash subgenre influences, ranging from crossover over tech-thrash and death-thrash to traditional thrash metal. While there ae a few breathers in the form of melodic intros, the album is mostly a merciless thrash metal attack.

The musicianship is impeccable and the production is crisp without being polished. The band yet again show that they are accomplished songwriters who really understand thrash metal. All the thrash metal tropes are there without the album seeming like a rehash of what thrash bands before Dust Bolt did.

If you really consider yourself a thrash metal fan, you will be doing yourself a favor by buying this album.

adg211288 Awake the Riot (2014) is the second full-length album by German thrash metal act Dust Bolt. The album includes a cover of Future Shock, originally by US act Evildead, to round off the original material on the album. The song is taken from the band's Annihilation of Civilization (1989) album.

Awake the Riot is the sort of album that doesn't really need much saying about it in order give you an idea what it sounds like. Suffice to say that what Dust Bolt have on their hands here is a barrage of thrash riffs with shouted vocals. But what is fairly typical of the thrash metal genre in style is delivered with upper class musicianship complete with technical edges and a great sense of melody and that really helps give Dust Bolt's songs an edge over the competition. The record as a whole is very energetic, only rarely descending into slower speeds, although when it does Dust Bolt produce what is arguably the album's crowning achievement in The Monotonous - Distant Scream, the last original song on the album before the Evildead cover. I really enjoy the way it builds up from slow and rather evil sounding into the sort of full-on thrash metal attack you'd expect from an album like this. In short, Awake the Riot is an incredibly fun thrash metal record to bang your head to.

While not the most addictive thrash metal album I've ever heard it's clear to me that Dust Bolt are an act that have a lot to offer the genre and those that enjoy thrash metal will surely love what the band serve up here.

Time Signature Agent thrash...

Genre: thrash metal

Awake the Riot is the sophomore full-length from Bavarian thrashers and thus the follow-up to their fierce debut Violent Demolition from 2012. It is well known that it can be incredibly difficult to follow up on one's debult album, but these Germans obviusly have no problems doing that, as Awake the riot is a rock solid thrash attack.

From beginning to end, the album is a relentless onslaught of thrash metal riffs, one stronger than the other, and bulldozing drums. This album really harnesses the aggressive energy of classic thrash metal without being mindlessly retro. True, it does adopt the aesthetics of the old thrash metal masters, and there also seems to be somewhat of an influence from Chuck Schuldiner's legendary band Death as well as Slayer and Sepultura, but the German's take these classic thrash and death-thrash elements in their own direction as they wrap it in sophistication and technicality in the form of songs with multiple tempo changes and well time thrash metal style breakdowns. Also, rather than opting for old school lo-fi production, Dust Bolt embrace a contemporary production which fits the precision with which they perform their music beautifully.

Awake the Riot is – or ought to be – an instant thrash metal classic. Fans of the genre should definitely check it out; they are likely to enjoy its relentless thrash metal barrage.

(review originally posted at seaoftranquility.org)