DEATH IN YOUR YARD (or D.I.Y.Y.) is exactly the kind of Crossover Thrash Metal band you'd expect to find in a dark, dank, 4-stories-deep underground bar performing to a crowd of hardcore fans that know each member on a personal level. They're rough-cut fresh blood, but they're heavy, uncompromising, and full of fury. Hailing from Tel Aviv, Israel, this 5-member pack of punks pack a punch and retain the true spirit of Crossover with 7 songs packed into a 9-minute EP.

"D.I.Y.Y- Or Die!" is the band's first ever release, beginning with a rather peculiar, yet humorous and attention-grabbing audio track. A strange fellow yammers on and on about God knows what, and as we scratch our heads trying to make sense of it all, we're hit with a fist-to-face guitar groove by Nadav Zaxxx and ripping drum fills in the aptly-named instrumental, "Intro", by their somewhat strangely-named drummer, Radaraitor.  Immediately after, we're led into the raw-scream that kicks off the whirlwind of blast beats, speedy riffs, and metal mayhem on the tune, "The Mask", and, quite frankly, the rest of the album. The song is short, sweet, and gets the point across on who we're dealing with, all the while making their first statement to the metal world.

The following tracks "Chop the Cop", "Beerbong", and "UAA" keep the upbeat pace and minute-to-win-it thrash that makes this EP so likeable, but blended together almost too much. If I wasn't paying attention, I wouldn't have noticed that several songs have already passed. I like to remember each movement on an album in its own small way, and the middle is a bit hard to individually remark. This is a problem that a lot of Crossover bands can run into and overcoming this is what can make one truly great.

Probably my favorite part is "Fillthy Clarck", with a tasty bass riff by Roy Ronen to start. The guitar is a little slower than the rest of the album, but picks up just a bit and leads into a verse riff that's more original and catchy. This song stands out from the rest of the extended-play record. Right after is the finale- the band's namesake, "DIYY", and definitely one of the stronger tunes. Though we are graced with 2 vocalists, Liav Von Wildfeuer and Alon Hoffman, it's at this point that we have a chance to compare their efforts when they sing in conjunction.

Overall, this is a solid EP for Israeli metallers, DEATH IN YOUR YARD. The production is rough, but that's to be expected for an unsigned group just getting on their feet, and the talent is there. The instrumentals are heavy and powerful, although the guitar can sometimes be all over the place. I've noticed that this can cause issues for vocalists in matching their pitch, which does happen once or twice (yet the overall performance is good). I really enjoy the dual-singer element happening, as it is uncommon enough in metal. However, this only really works if the vocalists contrast in their style and play off one another. When we look at dual-vocalist groups like ATREYU, NE OBLIVISCARUS, and ERRA, it's apparent that the vocalists have very diverse approaches to their craft and build upon their differences, which is something I'd like to see D.I.Y.Y. accomplish.

These dudes down from Israel have a lot of potential and much to look forward to. My message to them: keep thrashing and work hard- you've got a lot to look forward to and a lot of places to take your music!

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