I feel honored reviewing the first demo of this Thrash act, CATACLYSMIC. I really feel them going places. For a duo this isn't half bad. Getting a full-fledged band I can't imagine the direction and the outcome these guys are capable of. I've known them for a while through social media and I'm dedicated in helping their journey even as indirectly as talking a little about this demo. Now I present the self-released, "Masked Insanity".

"The Catalyst" is an instrumental track that starts off the demo. In its execution you have these raspy, primitive sounding quality riffs that combined the influential period of Death / Thrash, delivering grinding chunky riffs but at the same time light-weighted as the transparency of glass. While lathered with aggressive pinpoint drumming. Every hit sends a trimmer down the song's fault line and increasing its magnitude yet subjectively making its destruction beautiful. Recommended if you enjoy the likes of DEMOLITION HAMMER.

Entrapped in a "Haunted Sanctum". The first few moments you get this vibe- a cold sensation, a dark numb place. Hollow halls swept by negative incantations of unspeakable horrors. Actions' benighted of a structure that has murdered millions witless of life's truths. We become better acquainted with the bass and also introduced to the vocalist. As you go on CATACLYSMIC gradually continues digging to eliminate suspending gravel only to let out a roar signifying being liberated from confinement. Around 2:16 you get slaughtered by the progressively intricate drum pattern probably the most memorial pounding fest on the demo. Once slaughtered, you enter the realm of hell as the double bass's rawness takes you around for a tour. As the solo approaches it somehow reminded me of KRISIUN. It sounded lost, distorted by a break in communication only to get a cheap shot of a kill.

A rusty pole being dragged across the floor by a heavy apparition. Machinery starts to malfunction; you enter a chamber full of mysteries and secrets. A curse befalls all those who purge their unworthy soul upon a desecrated territory. You are "Disturbing the Archaic Tyrant". Onward with a camel out in the vivid sun. The intensity of the rays create ripples in the sky, is your tongue getting dry? The intro to "Slay The Emperor" has you in a trance, out there surviving in the deserts of Ancient Egypt. The bass is as sharp as the flash of a blade. Sheering, carving out a sarcophagus with its ardor.

Now you barge into the rhino charging, headbanging massacre, "Dance Of Death". It shifts in the great paced "Celestial Monstrosity". Fantastic rhythm, fine tempo, and the catchiest combative song. Low wounded knee thrashy grunts and as always Alex Matis tearing it at the drums. There should be a law against such relentless, greatly executed abuse.

I will say that I am absolutely not much of a fan of straight-up Thrash. You have to be imaginative, talented and incorporate your own extra flavor into the final product. I'm glad to say "Masked Insanity" accomplished that milestone. It has interesting riffs and they truly have a thing about playing passionately and aggressively. However, the vocals I felt are a bit weak. Every now and then, there's the occasional good blaring but overall it could use a bit more refinement. A lot of recent out-of-the-bag thrash metal bands use this same vocal style and sometimes it's dreading to the eardrums. It didn't get overly aggravating as Brandon Jake blended in a few hell-induced vocals. Nonetheless, this is a great demo. A few flaws there but the achievements outweigh them. Do yourself a favor and listen to CATACLYSMIC.