With a name like MURDER VAN, you need no introduction. This Thrash / Death Metal trio out of Atlanta, Georgia brings that savage imagery to life with their music. While they are not reinventing the wheel, this trio brings a solid sound to the table. From the album art to the ferocious sound, MURDER VAN is one interesting ride. Their debut album "Murder Van" is set to be released on December 6th 2019.

The opening track "At Dusk" sounds like it was actually recorded at one of the bands live shows. I like that they introduced themselves in this way because it makes you feel like your there in the dirty dive bar that they are playing in. "Webs Of Discontent" shows off the bands speed metal side mixed with foreboding guitar riffs. If a bloody rampage had a theme song, then this would be it. This is a track that is rife with brutality, chaos, and madness. "Death Rider" brings you to an eerie place with the uncomfortable tones of the vocals. At first I was taken aback by them, but upon further listening, I feel that the vocal style actually blends well for the track.

"Lurid Dream" is an all-out brutal death-drive. The riffs in this track are heavy, bludgeoning, and are reminiscent of 80s Thrash/Death beginnings. The influences of SLAYER are strong with this group. "Dead Hookers" is a darker, brooding track that opens into crazy guitar riffs. Fun fact, this song was actually written about the Green River Killer who was convicted of 48 separate murders. So it is fitting that the madness also resides in this track. "Murderous Desire" has some dissonant guitar riffs to open the track. This build the suspense before breaking out into a powerful vocal performance. The guitar work on this track has various different ranges and tempos. They are very random and you never know what riffs you are going to hear next. This keeps the track from getting repetitive and always offers something new.

MURDER VAN's self-titled debut album "Murder Van" is a unique, interesting trip back to the founding of Thrash / Death Metal. At first, this album really took me off guard with the low quality of the recording. But, as I listened more to the album, I began to actually enjoy the quality of it. It brings a very gritty sound that is accentuated by the imperfections that comes through the recording. I don't know if that was intended, but for me it added an interesting caveat to the album. While there is nothing groundbreaking about MURDER VAN, this group is a hell of a lot of fun. Their album art is as gritty and impure as their music and I really enjoy that about this group. This band gives me a "take or leave it" feeling and I respect that about them.