As both a SLAYER and KREATOR fan, it wasn't that difficult for me to find my way through the young US Thrashers of CONDITION CRITICAL and their short Demo / EP release of four tracks. "Bred To Kill" is their debut output that displays their own appreciation of two of the Thrash gods, sometimes even with too much appreciation I might add. In overall, I think that these guys know where they are going with their material, yet I couldn't differentiate their own signature in the whole thing.

After the short intro that presented the band's SLAYER oriented sound, especially when the guitars are concerned, the solid "Bred To Kill" came on knocking with speedy rhythms and the harsh nature of the band's vocalist / guitarist, Alonso Maguiño. Frankly, I didn't feel anything from the vocals. Although sounding evil and forbidding, I felt a paleness that is mostly common in Black Metal and CONDITION CRITICAL is the last band that is close to that extreme genre. "Self-Mutilation Ritual" followed while showing a slightly higher level of creativity on the riffing with attempts to go extreme but without making it primary. I enjoyed the solos that were mostly Hanneman style licks of bursting speed, yet played well. "Time Wave Zero" ended this short experience with a total SLAYER onslaught that breath life on the early track.

CONDITION CRITICAL is a promising young group, whether they cared to be original or not, it's not the main thing here. However, it is crucial that they would try to find a way to put their mark without being too similar to their influence.