German thrashers DARKNESS are back on the battleground with their brand new album, "The Gasoline Solution", released on October 7^th, 2016 via High Roller Records.

The underground band took a very long break since coming out back in the 80s with their two records, "Death Squad" (1987) and "Defenders of Justice" (1988). Their sound still strongly represents that first wave of Thrash Metal that we all love and cherish: fast, loud, and harsh.

After a short soft intro on "Tinkerbell Must Die", we are thrown full speed and full force into the unstoppable 9-track album, which leaves the listener completely breathless; there is no break, as it is a 37 minutes of pure headbanging.

The best-constructed song of this album is definitely "Another Reich": extremely actual in its lyrics, it has almost a prophetic feeling to it. The tune starts with a drum beat to set a much darker mood than the other tracks, and just when you are lead to believe that you are falling into this doomy atmosphere, the sound completely changes to go full speed thrash metal. The breaking bridge really makes this song stand out and earns the metal badge of honour.

With "Pay A Man", the band again questions the listener directly, and it takes a strong political position on people's stand-by attitude. It is the catchiest track of the album; it's got a great progression within the songwriting, with an epic, but quick, guitar solo, and captivating chorus.

The whole recording is full of rich hammering rhythms and bass grooves, punchy guitar riffs, and fast solos. The aggressive vocals are pretty upfront and take first place in the whole album to put a note on the importance of the lyrics, which are critical and meaningful. On this point, sometimes the mix of the album is a little too much in favour of the voice leaving the instruments a bit behind, but overall it is a good production and the record does have a good sound.

"The Gasoline Solution" is a very enjoyable album, and while it doesn't bring us much innovation in itself, it certainly is a pure old school headbanging, in your face, piece of thrash brutality that takes you back to the excitement of the 80s.<