Active since 2008, Esslingen, Germany's CONTAMINATION perform in a style that blends together Brutal Thrash with a touch of the Death Metal attack. After recording a demo CD "Globus Inversus" in 2011, the band set out to write a new set of songs, securing a deal with 7Hard for this new full-length "Nightmare Asylum". Although it's debatable whether to consider this a full-length at 5 tracks, but the time frame hits almost 30 minutes, and if "Reign In Blood" from SLAYER is a full-length at 29 minutes, then "Nightmare Asylum" qualifies by the old vinyl standards.

Much of the quartet's approach is of the 1-2 uppity Thrash variety, you know the type where there may be slow transitions, but for the most part, the main riffs are speedy and the drum tempo very relentless. I would say older METALLICA and THE OFFSPRING of the Bay Area movement, come into focus. Tobias as a vocalist, has more of a European death growl to his melodies, but his guitar playing with Philipp is of a sound, semi-technical in nature - pulling out some interesting runs and picking maneuvers on personal highlight "Cannibalistic Terror".

Kudos to a solid production that doesn't sound terribly computerized or over-processed; the snare, double bass, and regular bass is as important to CONTAMINATION as the standard guitar crunch that makes Thrash such a widely regarded style, and is back stronger than ever. When they decide to add a blast beat portion during "Inside the Nightmare", it's used for dynamic differentiation and not to abuse. The solos have a purpose, not flying thousands of notes in the air to become a 'shred showcase'. I even love the guitar segment that opens "Written in Blood", almost simulating an air raid signal through guitars before the slower, crunchy, dive bomb trail offs take over.

In the end, "Nightmare Asylum" has enough musical muscle and Thrash quality to pique interest, and we'll keep an eye on the progress of these Germans.
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