All ways in Thrash Metal subgenres have an idea: to turn mayhem and havoc into music in some way. Depending of the band, it can earn melodic traces (as usual by North American Thrash Metal acts), or spewing musical violence (as German Thrash Metal is up to). But a genre as Crossover, sometimes, can have melodic hooks and be ‘mayhemic’ as well, something that the German CATBREATH is up to, as heard on “Slice ‘Em All”, their first full-length. It was recorded by Jörg Uken and produced by the band itself, and the final result is a combination of Old School aspects (because it seems as recorded in the most simple way possible), but taking advantage of modern technologies (because ethe sound is defined and heavy), so the music of the quartet becomes huge and full of life. And what amazing artwork for the cover.

Their music is a form of mix between influences of Hardcore and Crossover with bits of Thrash Metal (from where some melodic traits arises), and it’s not a shame to say that they work in a way similar to what acts as NUCLEAR ASSAULT, S.O.D., M.O.D., CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, CRO-MAGS, AGNOSTIC FRONT, D.R.I. an others. But don’t get the wrong idea: their music sounds personal and full of energy. But beware to not detonate the entire living room when listening to it!

Be prepared, because their music sounds caustic and violent, but always done with care, what is heard on moments as “All Paws Are Equal” (excellent guitar riffs and some NYHC traits on the rhythms), “Slice ‘Em All” (here the natural Hardcore influences of Crossover are evident, with nasty and dirty vocals), “Plastic Smile” (another ‘hardcorized’ song with a brutal rhythmic massacre done by bass guitar and drums), “The New Claw Order” (here the German Thrash Metal side of their music is clear, adorned with dirty melodies), “Black Revenger” (the rhythms get slower, so it depicts the Punk Rock side of their music, with excellent double bass parts), “Ballad of a Splattered Corpse” (a funny and short song with some melodic leads), “Catbreath” (with its nasty ‘hardcorized’ aggressiveness), and… Hey, don’t be lazy and listen to “Strike of the Claw”, “The Scum Will Rise Again”, “Head of the Snake”, and “Blood Spill Claw Kill” as well. It will not hurt your feelings, just your ears and necks.

As a first album, “Slive ‘Em All” shows that CATBREATH has too much to offer, so pay attention to the band, and enjoy it!