Eurenza were originally formed seven years ago as Timeless, but eventually decided to go with a more uncommon name, and now have delivered their first five-track EP. Interestingly, much of this was recorded some time ago in preparation for an album, but they instead decided to go with the strongest tracks instead and cut it back. Only the lead guitar was recorded in 2021, with the bass recoded as long ago as 2018. Mind you, even that isn’t long enough to go back to where this music has its roots, as what we have here is music from the beginning of thrash, just as it was coming out of NWOBHM. There is no doubt they have been heavily influenced by early Metallica and Exodus (in particular), but they sound more as if they are being influenced by the same bands that influenced those acts, such as Diamond Head and Blitzkrieg.
There is that rough and raw approach, when volume and balls were as important as speed, just as metal was starting to subdivide and no-one knew just what was going to happen moving forward. It is on songs such as Life and Death, where they inject more energy and passion, that this band really comes alive, and one can easily imagine them on the same bill as Just One Fix ensuring all the local metalheads give themselves neck ache. This is fast and powerful, yet also with some nice guitar harmonies, while there are some additional overlays and melodic changes within this that really makes the listener pay close attention.
Strangely, the opener King of Kings is by far the slowest song on the EP, and to my ears is not the best reflection of the band. It is probably their heaviest, and certainly the most Metallica influenced number on the EP, yet is probably my least favourite. However, when NWOBHM hit in 1979 I was 16 years old, so I literally cut my metal teeth on the genre, with my first ever metal band being Tygers of Pan Tang when they supported Saxon, and I was soon out again to see Budgie and Vardis and every other metal band I could. This means I played this EP with a massive smile on my face, as songs like Die For No Man took me back to a time when metal was a simpler beast in many ways, and these guys have perfectly nailed it. If you want that early thrash sound, but delivered with modern production, then this is something you need to discover. Play loud.
Rating: 7/10
