Thrash/Black Metal is a genre that was born from the early influences of MOTÖRHEAD and VENOM being mixed with Metal Punk and early Thrash Metal. Acts as SODOM (the age between “In the Sign of Evil” and “Persecution Mania”), KREATOR (from “Endless Pain” to the EP “Flag of Hate”), DESTRUCTION (from “Sentence of Death” to the EP “Mad Butcher”) and SLAYER (from “Show No Mercy” to “Hell Awaits” days) are seminal for the genre, that gained a comeback with ABSU on “The Sun of Tiphareth” (1995), “The Third Storm of Cythrául” (1997) and “Tara” (2001). And this is the load that the North American trio DESOLUS deals with on its first full-length, “System Shock”.

Recorded early on 2023 at the Hotbox in Baltimore, the trio brought Sebastian Phillips (for the recordings and mixing) and Scott Hull (mastering), showing that to have an Old School Metal appeal doesn’t mean to have a filthy sonority. It seems that the band recorded things in the simplest way possible, but allowed Sebastian and Scott to work as they know, and the result is an Old School Metal sonority with modern improvements, something really very good. And the artwork of Matt Stikker (cover art) and Annick Giroux (design) is truly excellent.Their musical way is a combination of Old School Black/Thrash Metal improved with Metal Punk influences, creating a massive, hooking and deadly attack. It’s aggressive and nasty as the early masters named above were on their prime, but full of essential melodic hooks and Punkish attitude. And be prepared, because they’re here to rip ears and spit in your graves without mercy!

Their musical attack imposed mercilessly by songs as “System Shock” (a true Old School Black/Thrash Metal song with fast tempos and sharp guitar riffs and arrangements), “From Man to Machine” (be prepared by some excellent hooks on this one), “Curse of the Technomancer” (one some slower parts, the influence of BATHORY is clear on the guitars, but some rhythmic shifts of bass guitar and drums are very good), “Metal Fetishist” (piledriving drums and sharp ‘angelripperian’ tunes on the vocals are heard on this one), “The Arrival (of Evil)” (what very good bass playing can be heard), “The Invasion Begins” (a fast and furious massive song with some hooking slow bits), “Sea of Fire” (again the traces of BATHORY on the slow parts is clear, but what great guitar parts) and… Well, if you get here, pay attention to “The Sigilite” and “Panopticon” as well, because they’re great as well.

DESOLUS came to defy rules and impose things in their own way, so listen to “System Shock” and surrender yourselves!