Recently picked up by the American label Dead Inside Records and preparing for a new studio full-length that should hit the streets in 2015, this debut full-length "You Are What You Swallow" from Belgium's SANITY'S RAGE originally came out on a self-released basis in 2012. Performing in a Technical Thrash manner means that you aren't dealing with your average, run of the mill quintet who do not possess a level of proficiency at their respective instruments.

After the short 1:43 "The Madness Continues" instrumental that opens the record, the riff and rhythm thick gallop for the title track kicks in, Kenny whirling out the words in rapid fire succession as the guitars pack a thick wallop - intertwining a lot of ARTILLERY, FORBIDDEN, HEATHEN, and XENTRIX elements. Sometimes the vocals have a little of that DEMOLITION HAMMER / WARBRINGER bite - check out the ripping "Product of Calamity" - while the guitar breaks are not mere shred race work, but actually incorporate a ton of melodic/ harmonic parts that key in on the root notes of the individual track.

If I were to really analyze the type of Technical Thrash SANITY'S RAGE play, it incorporates a lot of the aggression of the Bay Area in terms of tempo and attack, but also the musicianship and finesse that a lot of the European acts put forth in the late 80's and 1990's. Tracks like "Shackles & Shades" and "Taste of Decay" force the body to move, the adrenaline racing through the air and even the gang vocals in the latter cut promoting easy back and forth response between band and the audience. Add in an impressive, beefy production and proper mastering job, and you can tell that SANITY'S RAGE are a band that should make waves for their obvious exemplary abilities in the genre.

47 minutes later, bruised and battered, "You Are What You Swallow" leaves me craving for more - and that's a good sign for the Technical Thrash genre in general.