INTOXICATED may not be a band that many have heard of before. Despite this, they have been actively playing gigs since 1992 with all original members. This EP is also the group's first original release in over twenty years. Don't be mistaken, though. The guys have stayed busy gigging and two of their three members are also official members of ANDREW WK, a name that many will be more familiar with. The style, however, could not be more different. The EP cover is reminiscent of something you'd expect to see on a MUNICIPAL WASTE album cover and is very promising.

The opening track, "Smash the Line" wastes no time in kicking off the EP. Contrasting most old school thrash, the guitar tone is full of bass heavy, fuzz filled distortion rather than the typical harsh guitar tone expected of the style. It relies less on being tight and instead lays on the attitude. Erik Payne's vocals are delivered with harsh intent. You can certainly tell the band have been together for years with this song.

The title track, "Walled", begins with a brief sample before swiftly kicking in with a tremolo picked riff that induces headbanging just the way any thrasher would hope for. The pacing of each track is well executed and allows some space for slow, hard headbanging, before launching back into an all-out moshfest. "Grab the Rope" has the kind of heavy, groove style riff that many bands would wish they could write as a gig opener. It delivers everything that it needs to and more. At this point in the EP it becomes apparent that despite the frantic riffs and guitar tone, the band is extremely tight at its core. Very few bands would be able to get away with the sonic choices these guys have made without sounding sloppy.

"Hells Reward" gives all the palm muting goodness that you would hope for in a local band. Riffs and an impeccable rhythm section make you wonder why this band never got more popular. "Stuck in Mode" lays on some black metal influence. Blast beats, tremolo riffs in a dissonant key. Vocals shrieked and growled with absolute rage and never waning even for a second. The whole EP does not allow a second of breathing space, opting instead to take your head off at every given opportunity.

The final track "Yuck" is a power chord riddled track full of mayhem. Before you even know it the EP is already over and you're wanting more. Having spent so many years without releasing any material the band has been able to take the best of themselves and put forward exactly who and what they are impeccably. They are gigging regularly as is possible in the current situation and given that two thirds of the members are already in a successful band, it's easy to assume this EP was released purely for fun. And that's exactly what it was: fun. Any thrash fan would be lucky to hear this hidden gem from a band that should have been heard a long time ago.