Where experience meets the harbor of labor and virtue few and said to trod and wade within such murky depths of dissonance and melodic tumult; those that persevere and persist within the Thrashing storms are well weathered by ageless lessons and SHAARK is of no such exception as they emerge into their 3^rd decade together. Having just released, Deathonation, (their first full length in 14 years) the band shows that some forces just never fade.

Harbinger of the malignant and unyielding, "Adventus Mali," commences the album-a short instrumental, the song sets the tone for the rest of the record both in compositional prowess and in actual fidelity. Upon completion of the opening instrumental, "Union Of Pain," brings the band in full to the listener's attention. The song features powerful riffs and visceral vocals, both of which complement one another with succinct and guttural tenacity. "Corruption" features a percussion based introduction before changing its soundscape in full and shifting to a demented progression coupled with an ensemble of vocals segueing the chorus. The title track, "Deathonation," is one of the most diverse tracks on the album having about itself an exceptionally large range and approach complete with build ups, relentless driving riffs, and diverging solos. "Friends Of Evil" takes the concept of Devil's Advocate to new extremes through energetic and compelling progressions reminding me both in sound and construction of WITCHFINDER GENERAL.

The sound design of the LP is distinct in its capacity for melding the instruments together in a jaded and pristine presentation. The guitars are gritty, punchy, and carry with them a sense of purpose, that every note and chord have a reason behind them beyond a capacitance for musical lexicon; the bass melds perfectly with the rest of the band sitting within its deep-end niche, as well providing that needed emphasis without being too overbearing or undernourished; the drums bring the soundscape as a whole together bridging loud with quiet, left and right, and all the tones from low to high without ever stealing from the strings and voice or fading into the background; and the vocals are discrete without any sense of jarring overlay, their integration into each full track is seamless and would feel incomplete without those gritty growls.

As a whole, Deathonation, offers a devoted full frontal assault from SHAARK which may or may not live up to a decade and a half worth of anticipation, though regardless offers a wide array of  Thrash laden tracks sure to get anyone busting through a wall.