DEFIANCE released their debut demo back in 1988 and managed to stay active until around 1999. During this period of time a lot of lineup changes took place but still the band was building quite a solid fan base. This silence lasted until 2005 when the band regrouped but after one year was hit by the passing away of guitarist Doug Harrington. So, two years after of that tragic event DEFIANCE are ready for a comeback under the new record deal with Candlelight Records.
This fresh record deal carries the new DEFIANCE album under the title The Prophecy. The first thing you come across as Prion enters is the trademark US Thrash sound. The killer guitars, the solid drumming and the TESTAMENT-esque vocals create a hearty Thrash atmosphere. This kind of Thrash looks over the Bary Area movement with guitar leads that can (and will) blow your mind. Steev Esquivel has a great voice and shines through the Chuck Billy influences with dominating vocals that also reveal a Death Metal lining from TESTAMENT Demonic days. Since the Bay Area sound is everywhere in this album EXODUS could not be missed from the references list. Bastard Son comes with a headbanging mid tempo and bows towards the Bonded By Blood days while the guitar leads are here to impress everyone for one more time. The drums play a significant role here building the solid rhythm section that blows up from time to time supporting the cutting edge riffs giving you the chance to warm your neck. Just listen to the accelerating part of Desert Sands where the twin guitar solo kicks major arse.
DEFIANCE don't try to impress the metalheads with a vintage sound taking advantage of the Thrash-revival days we all experience nowadays (not that is bad for us...). They are just being themselves on a track to continue what they started 20 years ago. And taking into consideration the turbulance they have been through this album can do more than one could expect. So, if you have Thrash running in your veins then grab the new DEFIANCE album and crank up the volume (especially during Sloth).