It seems that Switzerland is a country with a tendency to produce Metal trios, because since the 80's, the most worldly recognized acts of the country are in such format. Remember of HELLHAMMER, CELTIC FROST and CORONER to name a few, and sometimes, a traditional in Death Metal and Thrash Metal tendencies is detected as well (what doesn't mean that melodic tendencies don't have representative acts there as well, mind you all). Another good name seems to be arising in the middle of the Alps: MORTAL FACTOR, as stated by their second album, "Where to From Here?" These neckbreakers of Lucerne are unleashing a violent and intense form of Thrash/Death Metal (as always, the order of the names is important, because the trio plays Thrash Metal with Death Metal touches and not the opposite), but always with excellent arrangements and a good level of technical care.

On some moments, Groove Thrash Metal influences can be hard (as on the riffs and guitar arrangements of "Spirit Soul" and "You Do"). But be prepared: their songs are aggressive and intense in a way that can reap you eardrums to shreds, with a massive energy, but always with personality. It's really very good, indeed. The sonority of the album was conceived to align a brutal and distorted appeal in a defined form, what can be translated as a sound quality that allows the band to express its musical ideas in a way that simple to hear and understand, but always heavy and brutal as well. And the cover is curious: it depicts a more Hardcore-like appeal, something simple and efficient, and simply on a black and white art.

As a second album, "Where to From Here?" carries a lot of responsibility (including for being a release that celebrates the band's 20^th anniversary), but they fulfill it with songs as "Found a Minute" (a Groove/Thrash Metal-like set of influences can be heard during the chorus, but what great riffing can be heard), "Spirit Soul" (where the Groove/Thrash Metal appeal is clearer, but the level of musical violence is amazing, but some melodic arrangements and licks of the guitars are tempering things in a great way, and what excellent harsh vocals), "You Do" (one of the Singles of the album, and a perfect song for a live show due its catchy energy and Hardcore-like outfit), "The Road" (where some Old School elements gained an 'updated' to fit in the 'nightmare'-like ambiences, with an oppressive work of bass guitar and drums), "Tryin'" and "Until It Cracks" (with oppressive song with slow tempos on both songs, but what lovely arrangements), and "Good as Gold".

MORTAL FACTOR really created a very good album, and the fans will surely love it. Oh, don't you believe me? What's left to do: experience it for yourself, and check if "Where to From Here?" isn't enough to make the walls tremble around you...