Just a quick check of the year, yes, it is 2023, as what we have here is something running back time the best part of 40 years to give us good old-fashioned thrash with a heavy dash of death for good measure. This is music designed to get the noggins to bounce, to cause metalheads everywhere to lose their dandruff and get sore necks. This is the debut album from the Indianapolis quartet of Keegan Hrybyk (lead guitar), Corey Parks (rhythm guitar/vocals), Chris Pilotte (bass), and Jacob Lett (drums), who formed in 2019, since when they have released a few EPs. Mind you, their debut release for Wise Blood Records was a 9-track EP called ‘Radiated Remains’ in 2021, and this is only one song and six minutes longer so there is not much difference between an EP and an album. (‘Reign In Blood’ has 10 songs but is only 29 minutes in length so is that an album or an EP? Discuss. And as for Napalm Death…).

Anyway, it is the music which counts, and this is a load of fun from beginning to end. True, there are times when the sound seems to shift from good demo to professional and while it was engineered, mixed and mastered by Wesley Heaton who has recorded quite a few bands at this level, one does wonder what would have happened if Colin Richardson or Andy Sneap had been involved. It all about heads down and devil take the hindmost, thrash which has not evolved since the early days, except for bringing in some heavier elements where it makes sense. The combination of the genres with riff hungry riffs and runs makes for an experience where all the listener wants to do is keep turning it up and I know that if I ever saw these guys were playing a show in my area then I would be going out to have some fun? Is it essential? No, far from it, but it sure is a lot of fun.

Rating: 6/10

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/graveripperofficial/
https://wisebloodrecords.com/