Sometimes when you start to review an album you know what you want to say, but you have trouble putting in enough words to make your intentions known. At the same time, you want to avoid to make too many statements, which could lead to people making heads nor tails of the piece that has been written to explain your feelings of the music. And to be clear, a review is always subjective, as it is a personal view. One you're allowed to disagree with. So here goes this one.

THRASH METAL. Yes, it has to be in capital letters, because there is no doubt as to what kind of music CHEMICIDE is playing. The start of the opening song "Self Destruct" is as furious as Mike Tyson when he sees a naked ear in front of his mouth. Bloody hell, this is fast and imposing. CHEMICIDE hail from San José in California and were formed in 2008. On "Common Sense", which is their fourth full length offering of their talents, they do play your typical Bay Area thrash. Big difference though is that at times it's that bit more intense and at almost insane speeds than most of their Bay Area colleagues are even capable of. If I would have to name a band that they do remind me of, it is the Spanish force called CRISIX.

The reason CHEMICIDE doesn't excite me as much as the Spaniards do is that it's all just that bit too predictable, there are no surprise jumps, weird breaks or interesting topics to be discussed. On top of that they are missing out on the humour element, something every good Thrash band needs, in at least one of the songs on the album. They take themselves a tad too serious. Does that mean that I don't like the album? "Common Sense" says I shouldn't, but I do like this, and a lot too. The Thrash CHEMICIDE plays is top notch, there isn't anything wrong with their music, the vocals or even the production. But, like I said, it lacks the level of diversity to make it extra special. And to me that is a real pity.

I have never heard any of their older stuff, but I think I really need to do just that. Even if it is to find out if CHEMICIDE have always been this serious. If they have, I sincerely apologise to the band.