Since the early days of the 80s, the proximity of Metal to Punk Rock and Hardcore was showing that one new genre was about to be born, and many arose of such mix. This proximity was started by MOTÖRHEAD in the 70s that seeded what the early incarnations of Speed/Thrash Metal (that on ATOMKRAFT has one of its pioneers, if you don’t know), and today spanned am ample set of sonorities and possibilities. And from Louisville, Kentucky (USA) comes BELUSHI SPEED BALL, a true heir of such mix, as heard on “Steelkira”. The reality can be said as this: the quintet shows that mixing between Thrash Metal and USA Hardcore (specially from New York) that gave rise to Crossover.

But on their hands, the mix is balanced, with moments depicting a Heavy Metal melodic set of traces (as heard on “Eels and Escalators”), but always with sharp-cutting riffs inherited from Thrash Metal/Hardcore elements (as heard clearly on “My Favorite Color is Pizza”, and into a Punk Rock trend as depicted on “Get to the Point”). But even playing a genre so eroded, the energy unleashed by the quintet and its personality are things that amaze the hearers easily. Be prepared! Produced and mixed by Chase Bensing, with mastering of Joel Grind, the sonority of “Steelkira” stays in a midterm between the past (because the nasty and sharp instrumental tunes depict something simple and straight to the point) and the present (due the definition and huge appeal used on the mixing) make things sound great. And what great artwork of Andrei Bouzkov (with graphic design by Robert Holland), where the reference to “Akira” (an old tokusatsu) is clear.

Sometimes fast and furious, on others more melodic and technical, the music of the band is really hard to resist to, especially on moments as “My Favorite Color is Pizza” (a fast and furious song filled in an amazing energy, but with excellent instrumental arrangements, especially on the guitars), “This is the Peak” (that even with such aggressive outfit depicts fine melodies, and what nasty screams of the vocals), “Eels and Escalators” (here the melodic references to Heavy Metal are clearer, again with charming guitar riffs with melodic arrangements), “Get to the Point” (the nasty side of their music appears with such Punk Rock/Hardcore appeal, and what thunderous bass guitar and drums lines), “Glass Bones III (Skit)” and “Glass Bones and Paper Skin IV” (again massive bass guitar and drums rhythms are heard), “The Adventures of Rick and Mortarion” (wow, very good rhythmic shifts, indeed, and choruses into a NYHC way), “Garth, Let My Family Go” (a filthy song with some influences inherited from MOTÖRHEAD), and to “Griffith Did Literally Everything Wrong”, “The Hash Slinging Slasher” and “The Accountant's Due (Stab the Katana)” as well. For Thrash Metal/Crossover fans, this album is a ‘must have’ item.

“Steelkira” is really excellent, so why don’t you taste BELUSHI SPEED BALL’s music?