Norway, especially Bergen is best known for providing the Metal world with some of the finest Black Metal to ever be recorded, so I must say I was rather surprised when I was given this debut album by PITCH BLACK MENTALITY, a Thrash Metal band, so will these guys show us that Norway is a force to be reckoned with in any Metal genre, or should Bergen stick to its Black Metal roots? This album answers this question with a very powerful and resounding reply, but we'll get to that later.

"The Pitch Black Reality" opens with an explosion of energy known as "Carpe Demon" a strong and heavy opener with an infectious chorus, tremendous guitar work, and fantastic vocals, it's obvious right away that the bands Bassist / Singer Tore Christer Storlid can teach even some Power Metal singers a thing or two, not to mention being one of the best singers I've heard in the modern Thrash Metal scene. As we move on to the title track we are welcomed by a siren which gives way to some impressive blast beats and melodic guitars which in turn give way to some old school Thrash riffs and beats.

PITCH BLACK MENTALITY have obviously learned from the masters, the influence of the early 80's Thrash movement are very evident, that however doesn't take away from anything as the band manage to create a sound of their own, old school? Yes, boring? No way! "Red Light" is a good example of the band's needs to smash you in the face with some heavy riffing and yet the melody is heavily present, as it is throughout the whole record. A personal favorite of mine is the fantastic "Silent Voice" sounding as a hybrid of some great Thrash and classic Heavy Metal.

And so we return to the question I began with, is Norway a force to be reckoned with in any Metal genre? Well, in the immortal words of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Oh Hell Yeah! The boys from Bergen prove that not only is there more to the Norwegian Metal scene than Black Metal, but in the process they are setting themselves up as a force in their own right, providing the listener with the right amount of heaviness, melody and heart, a very recommended album!