Bring me some thrash please! From Sweden, the land of MESHUGGA, four young lads are trying to bring thrash metal back to the fun times of early METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH! The band is ERADIKATED and their debut album is called Descendants (from the great thrash metal gods?). The band members look very young and full of energy. It reminds me of  bands from the early thrash metal scene in the 80/90s  and it is interesting to see the younger generation nowadays giving their spin on such a traditional metal genre. On their website’s front page the band advises: -We play thrash metal like it’s supposed to sound – hard, fast and mean. Let’s see if this is true. The boys are not joking. Thrash metal straight to your veins with the first tune “Unleash”. With a great SLAYER vibe, speed, and plenty of guitar chugs, the band takes you right back to the golden era of the genre. Sound with attitude and great energy with obvious nods to the great masters..

Another in your face track is “Flood”.  Great riffage and a traditional high energy thrash delivery. The boys are true to their word. No overproduction, just pure raw undeniable speed and energy. Impossible not to mosh. The singer and guitar player Elvin Landaeus Csizmadia reminds me of a young Tom Araya. This track has a Youtube video. The brutality continues on the third track “Drought”. Another great tune with a good melody and arrangements. The song has a smart mood change in the middle and turns the energy even higher in the end with a different singing melody. Good mood changes and musical exploration showing that despite their age, they do have deep knowledge and respect for the great thrash gods and are able to add their unique sauce to the mix. No ballads here my friends. Is one punch in the face after the other. We are all aware that the foundation for every thrash metal band is having a solid drummer and Calle Frogner Moberg does not disappoint. Great drumming in all tracks and killer double bass work on “Descendants” named after the album.The band style is consistent in every track showing that they have already developed a personality. They know what they are and what they want to do and this is the first step for every great band. Another good video on Youtube.

 “Dead Heaven” starts with a METALLICA style opening. These guys surely drank from all the correct sources. This tune brings a welcome pause on the frenetic speed and explores even more the genre with a slower tempo and great guitar crunchiness. In some parts it reminds you of PANTERA.  Some narration in the melody and a much more eerie vibe, the tune gives the correct pace break in the middle of the album. Another slower but extremely heavy introduction for “Hazardous”but then, were back 200mph and more great riffs. Solid work from bass player Erland Östberg in all tracks. He gives total Cliff Burton vibes on the band live performances on  youtube. Actually, the entire band gives early METALLICA vibes live. We reach “Faced”. This is a mix of mean mid tempo riffs with epic speed in some parts. The band has 2 solid guitar players in Elvin Landaeus Csizmadia and Ragnar Östberg. But I believe Ragnar takes care of the majority of the solos showing his clear influences from Mustaine to Gary Holt and more.

 The next track is “Flames”. I like the simplicity of the track names as well. One or two words and that is it. Direct like their songs and this one is another neck breaker. With a great slow session in the middle , the boys are full of riff ideas and creativity and still their sound takes me back to that time when the genre was in its infancy. All tunes are consistent despite showing a variety of tempos, mood and energy. “Reckoning” is another slower tempo and darker kind of output.  Despite the changes of mood, the band keeps the energy intact. Solid work so far. Hard to pick a favorite at this stage. ERADIKATED also shows they have enough material for a full album and perhaps more. We reach the 10th song with “Blood-like Red” and the album is not over yet. This track is maybe the longest tune of the album with another slower tempo output with touches of epicness that reminds me of “From Whom The Bells Tool”.

 We reach the end of the album with “Coffin” , and they close this very good debut with the punkiest, thrashiest, fastest, parent scaring, in your face tune for our listening pleasure. The metal gods should be proud that these kids are around. This track is a completely punk style mixed with some thrash metal innuendos. Absolutely killer track and perhaps my favorite of a very hard to decide album. If you like to go back every now and then to listen to the first albums from all the great bands of the thrash metal era mentioned in this article, and many others that were not, ERADIKATED will bring you joy my friend. One thing I love about heavy music is when it comes with attitude and this band has plenty. Very solid work for a debut album and I will look forward to checking how this band progresses.