Solitary have been one of the leading lights in the UK thrash scene for more than thirty years, and Richard Sherrington (vocals, guitar) has been there since the beginning. Drummer Roy Miller has been there for quarter of a century, lead guitarist Andy Mellor more than twenty years, while bassist Gareth Harrop returned in 2019 having been involved back in the 90’s as well, so a pretty stable line-up. There is little doubt where these guys get their influences from, as putting this on brings a smile to the face as they wear their love for Testament very proudly on their sleeves while Sacred Reich and Sepultura also get a look in.

It is old school thrash, and producer Simon Efemey (Napalm Death, Paradise Lost, Deceased etc) has ensured everything is kept nice and punchy and not too commercialised or smooth. It really does sound like an album from a lost age and if someone had told me this was a remastered discovery of something from the late Eighties I would have believed them. However, the introduction would have given it away given we get a female voice telling us about the danger of anorexia and what has happened since the pandemic. It is frightening to hear, and far more dramatic than hearing about fictional horrors, as this is the real deal. There are few British thrash bands who have had as much impact as those from America, but there is no doubt that here is an album which while heavily influenced by others has plenty of class all its own and any fan of the genre would do well to seek this out.

Rating: 8/10

Links:
https://www.solitary.org.uk/