SUICIDAL ANGELS hailing from Athens, Greece were formed in 2001. The Thrash Metal outfit released so far one EP, seven full-length albums, and one live album. Album number eight “Profane Prayer” was produced by drummer Orfess and vocalist Nick. It was mixed by Jens Bogren (AMON AMARTH; AMORPHIS; ARCH ENEMY) at Fascination Street Studio and mastered by Tony Lindgren (AMORPHIS; CRYPTOSIS; KREATOR). The album has a length of about 48 minutes, and it was released via German Metal specialists Nuclear Blast.

“When The Lions Die” is the opening track of the album and it starts with a short, guitar-driven pre-lude, transitioning into a fast track with tight guitar riffing and dark melodies. The harsh vocals are very distinctive and varying around the medium end of the vocal range with little tonal shifts. There is a mid-tempo break introducing the extended and very contributing lead guitar solo. “When The Lions Die” is a strong opening track to the album. “Crypts Of Madness” continues with the pace, in fact, it is faster than the opening track, but more importantly, it is more direct and more aggressive. While “When The Lions Die” focused more on epic and dark melodies, “Crypts Of Madness” is more on the punishing side. The break adds more melodic components to the track, which includes another excellent lead guitar solo. “Crypts Of Madness” is a track for the pit and it is an early highlight of the album. “Purified By Fire” is another fast Thrash Metal attack with flesh-ripping guitar riffing, pace, and aggression. The basslines are crunching, and the vocals include a few crossover vibes with simple and catchy chorus lines. The lead guitar solo is once again second-to-none, while the melodies during the break have a few SLAYER vibes. “Purified By Fire” is the official video release, and the YouTube link is provided below.

“Deathstalker” is a first distinct change in sound. Starting with an extended acoustic guitar intro, it transitions into a slow song with powerful riffing and melodies. While the first half of the eight minutes track maintains the slow pace, the break slightly raises tempo, but maintains the ballad-esque melodic framework of the track with an extended lead guitar solo. “Deathstalker” is epic, with melancholic melodies, and it is the album ballad. The title song goes back to the old school Thrash Metal sound. It is another fast song with simple and direct riffing. While the verse parts are direct and aggressive, the chorus parts are slightly more playful with a sing-along chorus line. The break slows down the pace to mid-tempo, while the lead guitar solo is played at higher speed. “Profane Prayer” is another album highlight. “The Return Of The Reaper” starts with an extended instrumental and melodic pre-lude, transitioning into a mid-tempo Thrash song at a head-banging rhythm with direct guitar riffing throughout. The chorus part is another simple sing-along. Highlight of the track is once again the very contributing lead guitar solo.

“Guard Of The Insane” starts with a short and crushing bass solo, leading into an up-tempo verse part with thunderous guitar riffing and plenty of double-bass drumming. There is a sharp transition to the mid-tempo chorus parts with another sing-along chorus lines. The break is at mid-tempo with the lead guitar solo at its heart. Another sharp transition cycles the track back to its verse and then final chorus part. “Virtues Of Destruction” raises the heat and the pace. Old school and tight guitar riffing provides the basis for this ripping track, which is arguably one of the fastest on the album. The excellent lead guitar solo during the break makes sure that “Virtues Of Destruction” is one of the best album tracks. The Thrash Metal assault finishes with an oriental inspired, tension-building pre-lude to “The Fire Paths Of Fate”. The intro provides the main melody of the song, where the verse and chorus parts are played at a measured tempo with an almost stomping rhythm. Focus of the track is the oriental main melody, which is intensified by the female background vocals. “The Fire Paths Of Fate” is with more than nine minutes the longest album track and with such length, there is plenty of room for an extended break led by the guitars at different tempi and rhythms. A good songwriting makes sure that the track always goes back to the initial melodic framework. “The Fire Paths Of Fate” is another album highlight.

SUICIDAL ANGELS deliver an excellent old school Thrash Metal album. “Profane Prayer” contains all the elements that Thrash Metal fans love so much: the pace, the aggression, the classical Thrash Metal riffing, the melodies, and the lead guitars. SUICIDAL ANGELS stick to a well-tried approach and do not re-invent the Thrash Metal wheel, but they spin it with excellence. Good songwriting and good production make sure, that the listeners are kept on their toes. “Profane Prayer” is one of the Thrash Metal highlights of this year so far and surely belongs to the collection of all old school Thrashers.