We are going back to California Thrash Metal with the band MINDWARS that is releasing their 5th album called V. The band is a power trio created in 2013, and with a new member in the 4 strings, they promise to get us back to the golden era of the big 4 and the California Bay Area Thrash. The first track “Stand Guard at the Gates of Your Mind” is already a punch in the face. Big guitars with interesting riffs and all the chug chugs you can handle. “West of Nowhere” follows the same formula of an instrumental introduction before changing the pace for the vocals. The singer, and also only guitar player Mike Alvord seems to be able to do it all with competence. However, at live performances it will be missed a second guitar player as there are many tracks like the good and intricate “The Road to Madagascar “ that is mean instrumental track with no vocals and some heavy guitars. This is just the boys just showing off that they are well seasoned musicians and composers but on live performances, a second guitar may be necessary due to the complexity of the arrangements. T

he creative riffs keep coming thick and fast in “Chasing the Wind” that has a nice bass arrangement from new bass player Rick Zaccaro. The band surely drank from the fountain of SLAYER and METALLICA but despite the similarities, they are able to put their sauce in the arrangements as you can hear in the somber “Beneath the Trees“ and the fast paced “Live to Die” giving the tracks their personality. MINDWARS also has a competent drummer in Roby Vitari that has all the shops required for a Thrash Metal drummer like the double bass drum madness that can be heard in “Crusader” and also on the good “Source of Destruction” that reminds me of MEGADETH Peace Sells. The lyrical themes on this album are interesting and do explore issues of morality, politics and corruption as well as internal life struggles.

Other standouts include the energetic “Into the Known” with its catchy chorus that gave me vibes of the great Lemmy on vocals; the manic and heavy riff of “Vultures of the Eighth Wonder” which begins with heavy chords and speed, but also features a notable mid section with a cool arrangement and a bass line that gives a sweet flavour and some suavity to the track. This is followed by a speech before the boys get back to the heaviness of it all. We end our journey with a cover song! This is pretty common in a lot of albums, but this one specifically came from the left side. MINDWARS performs a song from the least Metal band that ever existed (but still amazing in their style), SUPERTRAMP , and they do a good job as well performing one of their most famous tracks “The Logical Song”. Bold move from a good band. If you like Bay Area Thrash inspired Metal with some good new ideas, this is a band to look out for.