Here we have the single from Auckland-based outfit Just One Fix, which is the first new material from the band since 2017’s single “Death In The Family” and the first to feature ‘new’ drummer Ross Curtain (ex-Enoch & Silent Torture). The rest of the band are of course Riccardo Ball (vocals), Sharne Scarborough (guitar), and Ant Ward (beard and bass), and I have been fortunate enough to see these guys play a few times over the last couple of years and I always have a blast. Their trademark is a combination of catchy hooks and thrash along with great stage presence and this, their first song from the forthcoming ‘Submit or Death’ EP demonstrates just what is so good about them.
The song kicks off in very high tempo and immediately we are taken into the world of Testament as Ross does his best Gene Hoglan impression with driving double kick drums and pounding rhythms, Ant locks in with Ross and behind Sharne to create an additional melodic lead (with some great slap as well for emphasis), while Sharne picks like a demented Skolnick. Then at the front we have Riccardo Ball, New Zealand’s take on Chuck Billy, always in command no matter what is going on behind. What is really interesting with this song is that it would have been easy for them to keep the same tempo all the way through, but they drop it considerably in time for the solo and at the end we are left hanging for more with sheer drama and passion. The inspiration for the song is taken from a quote by French philosopher Denis Diderot who said, “Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest…” They have been asked to open for numerous international acts and have played on bills with bills with the likes of Sepultura, Megadeth, Death Angel, Korn, Hellyeah, Fear Factory, Corrosion of Conformity, Black Label Society, Chimaira, Serj Tankian, Bullet For My Valentine and many more. Surely it is time for them to be recognised in their own right. This is powerful stuff.
Rating: 8/10
