Violent Iconoclasm, the 2025 album by blackened thrash metal band from Seattle Hellslaught, certainly lives up to its name. This a violent, dark, brooding, fast paced album that takes the listener down a dark path. It's definitely not an album for everyone, and it wasn't an album for me. Sure there are elements I enjoyed, namely the technicality of which each of the musicians on this record were working with. From the thrashy guitars which soared to the extremely well timed drumming, the album has good things about it. But me, not being as big of a fan of black metal, that turned me off. There isn't anything melodious about the record; it's just a cacophony of sound. And while sometimes that excites me, this time it doesn't. For starters I wasn't a fan of the singers raspy voice. That's how a lot of black metal sounds like, and it just never grips me in its hold. I can definitely tell the musicians are good at what they do, and the first track, Slaves of Torment, showcases that technicality and skill that a good metal musician possesses. From the opening riffs to the squealing guitars in the solo, this song has some good things about it; but again, I don't like the vocals here at all. The album is made for a specific kind of listener.

I'm not gonna go ahead and call the album a total waste of time because it just wasn't for me. Opinions are subjective and there are going to be just as many people who connect with this record as people who don't. For example, my favorite track on the record is Charnel Planet. I loved the layered riffs and drumming and the way those two things melded together, with the soaring, rasping vocals climbing over top the instrumentation. The bass tones worked for me on this track as well. I do enjoy how the album isn't as slow and prodding as a lot of black metal I have heard; it's quick, and makes its point quickly, which was good for me. I also love the chugging guitars in the middle of the track, and how everything just quickly runs together.

It's definitely not the worst album I've ever heard because the band is clearly skilled at what they do, it's just not for me. As someone who has never really liked the style of black metal, but enjoys the style of thrash, there are some elements here that I really enjoyed. Namely how fast paced the album is compared to some black metal bands I've heard, and the technical prowess of the instrumentation. But the vocal work I didn't care for at all, and the album, overall, just didn't connect with me as it may connect with some.