HOLYCIDE were formed in 2004 and they are from Madrid, Spain. The Thrash Metal band released so far two EPs and two full-length albums. Their third album “Towards Idiocracy” was mixed by Nexus 6 (AVULSED; GOLGOTHA) and mastered by Davide Billia (BEHEADED; PUTRIDITY). It has a length of about 39 minutes. The album was released via Spanish label Xtreem Music, which has many Death, Thrash, and Black Metal bands among their current roster. The album starts blisteringly fast, and with the simple chorus line of the track: “A.I. Supremacy”. The guitar riffing is traditional tight Thrash Metal riffing. The track just slightly varies pace for the verse parts, apart from that, it is a high-speed affair throughout. The vocals are harsh and vary around the medium end of the vocal range. “A.I. Supremacy” sets the bar very high in terms of pace and aggressiveness, it is simply a perfect opening track. “Towards Idiocracy” cannot keep up with the pace of the first track, but it is still a fast one. The track has a few more twists in tempo and rhythm during the verse parts, but it also has parts at insane tempo. The riffing is aggressive and flesh-ripping. The break slows down a little bit and it contains a very contributing lead guitar solo.

“Towards Idiocracy” is the official lyric video, and the YouTube link is provided below. “Remote Control” is another fast track, but not as frantic as the opening songs. It is a bit more framed into a classical verse/chorus/break structure. The melodies have some oriental vibes at times. The break starts very abrupt with the pace distinctly slowing down. It is a short break and the track circles back quickly to the next verse and chorus part. The choruses are simple and have a certain catchiness, with the vocal lines being intensified by background vocals.  “Lie Is The New Truth” starts a bit more playful and with a bit more technicality. The riffing is tight, but with slightly more complexity. It is a fast song for most of the time, with exception of the mid-tempo break for the lead guitar solo.  “Power Corrupts” is another fast, direct, and aggressive track with a mixture of tight riffing and more thunderous riffs. It is a track with almost no changes in tempo and rhythm, it is a hammering Thrash Metal assault, where the highlight is the extended lead guitar solo. “Technophobia” is a fast track but with a few twists and turns in pace and rhythm. There are flesh-ripping parts as well as head-banging parts throughout. It is perhaps the most complex song in terms of tempo changes and riffing. “Angry For Nothing” is one of the few tracks that leans more towards mid-tempo, in particular during the anthemic chorus parts and the break. The break is two-parted: while the first part is mid-tempo and driven by the riffing, the vocals, and the double-bass drumming, the second part is fast for the extended lead guitar solo.

“Chemical Dependency” is a cover song of the very first song ever released by Tucson Thrashers ATHROPY from 1987. The version arranged by HOLYCIDE perfectly fits into the album and in fact, it could be one of their own songs. “Pleased To Be Deceived” is a fast track with a few subtle changes in tempo and rhythm. The riffing is a mixture of tight Thrash Metal riffing and riffs with a few Heavy Metal vibes during the chorus part. “Flamethrower ‘Em All” is the final album track, and it is the first mid-tempo track at least during the verse and chorus parts. The break raises the tempo initially, but it is a constant back and forth between fast parts and down-tempo parts. This is even reflected in the lead guitar solo. While “Flamethrower ‘Em All” is not necessarily a change in the album sound, but surely a change in tempo and rhythm.

HOLYCIDE deliver an excellent classical Thrash Metal album. “Towards Idiocracy” is certainly the fastest Thrash Metal album I listened to in this year. The Thrash Metal attack is relentless, aggressive, with flesh-ripping guitar riffing, and cool lead guitar solos. At times, the sound seems a bit inspired by early EXODUS for the riffing and by early DESTRUCTION for the vocals. What could be more Thrash Metal than a combination of those both legendary bands? The album is well produced. “Towards Idiocracy” is a gift for old school Thrashers and surely a must-have album for all Thrash Metal fans.