The massive commercial success of “Master of Puppets” in the early days of 1986 canonized Thrash Metal and caused a huge shift in extreme scene: many acts of what would be called the Death Metal became Thrash Metal acts, both on USA as in Germany. POSSESSED’s “Beyond the Gates”, KREATOR’s “Flag of Hate” EP, SODOM’s “Expurse of Sodomy” EP, and DESTRUCTION’s “Eternal Devastation” are fine examples how the early Black/Death Metal bands became Thrash Metal acts (and out of USA-Germany axis, the same can be said about SEPULTURA’s “Schizophrenia”) and defined the things back them. But due its extreme roots on Black Metal and Death Metal (remembering that VENOM was a huge influence for both genres) influences, the German Thrash Metal acts have a tendency to sound more aggressive than North American ones (that carries tons of traces from traditional Heavy Metal and Hard Rock, being SLAYER an exception), what is clearly heard on “Dying World”, the third album of the German trio FULL ASSAULT.

Christian Eggers (on the drums) and Robsess (on guitars and bass) are the ones who worked on the recordings, and their efforts generate an aggressive and nasty sonority that fits on the band’s music. But the work on the definition of things can sound a little ‘canned’ sometimes (maybe a consequence of the digital technologies on the recordings, or the choice for the instrumental tunes, or both things). It’s good, but could be better. And what good artwork of the Italian artist Roberto Toderico for the cover! The trio works on a way that really has the German Thrash Metal DNA on it, with some nasty influences from Crossover as well, but their music inherits some melodic traits as well (as heard on some leads and themes of the guitars heard on “Apocalyptic World”). So it’s not a sin to say that they combine influences from Thrash Metal the German way with melodies inherited from Heavy Metal and Speed Metal (no one is able to deny their musical load, unless people are trying to be anyone else than themselves). It’s nasty and aggressive, fast and explosive, but with care on the arrangements and fine melodies.

If a third album is a matter of ‘rise-and-fall’ for a band’s career, “Dying World” comes to consolidate the trio’s work. And songs as “Final Dawn of Light” (fine melodic lead into such fast rush of energy and aggressiveness, and what intense musical hooks), “Edge of a Collapse” (the contrasts between melodies and aggressiveness is amazing, with fine screams and snarls on the vocals), “Vengeance...Victory” (the speed decreases, allowing the guitars to weave melodic arrangements, and bass guitar and drums to create a massive and heavy set of rhythms), “Signs of the End”, “All Hope is Gone” and “All Hope is Gone” (another good combination of fast and nasty parts with melodies, with nasty harsh voices boosted by fine guitars), “Planet Grave” (this has a more aggressive insight, a perfect song for cause earaches and extreme pains in the neck), and as homework, hear to “Never Hesitate...Eradicate”, “Apocalyptic World” and “Piece of Cloth” as well. But a tip for the band: maybe you could think of a second guitarist for the live shows.

“Dying World” shows that Thrash Metal fans must pay close attention to this trio. And maybe FULL ASSAULT’s music is what many are looking for (instead of listening to the same old albums).