I have always taken great pride in attending local shows and supporting local and national bands. I have had the privilege of reviewing a few releases by Indian bands in the past, and so when I got the opportunity to review Kolkata's new Thrash faces, I couldn't resist myself but grab the opportunity with an evil smile! So ARMAMENT released their debut EP "First Strike" this August 22^nd, and its simply not what I expected.

The record hits you on the face right from the first song "Hammer of God", as the raw, unadulterated Bay Area influenced 80s styled Thrash gives you multiple eargasms within the 2 and half minutes, especially due to the dirty thick vocals of War. It's the kind of music that gets your hair up in the air, especially with a song like "Chaos Prevails" which gets the innovative riffs and rhythm perfectly right and makes me wonder "where have all good old-school bands all disappeared off-late?!" The lads attempt an anthem with "Wings of Death" and almost get it right. Although the influence of the Bay Area 80s Thrash is very much felt all over the record, the band manages to bring something new to the table especially with the innovative riffs and the throat chocking vocals. The band gives you a glimpse of what the lyrics are about with the next song in "Gas Chamber". The record ends with a tribute song to AGENT STEEL in "Unstoppable Force" which has some cool hair lifting riffs.

All in all, I am largely happy to find that we finally have got a new Indian band which breathes, lives and plays old school Thrash the way it was formed. It's back to the roots. While offering something worthwhile to the listeners "First Strike" surely has made all old school connoisseurs blush a bit!