TANTARAis a Thrash Metal band that comes from Norway, they were formed originally as a "talent show" band until September, 2009 when Stian Sannerud, the drummer, and rhythm guitarist Fredrik Bjerkø decided to take it into the next level, make it an official band. They recruited Per Semb as their lead guitarist and Bjarke as their bassist and in August, 2010, they recorded their first EP, "Human Mutation", which was, at first, released solely as in the digital form but later on would receive a physical copy. In April, 2011, Bjarke left the band and they recruited from Sweden, Max Warnby. In July, 2011, they got in touch with legendary sound engineer and producer Flemming Rasmussen, who has been involved with the METALLICA classic albums "Ride the Lightning", "Master of Puppets" and"...And Justice for" All, also worked with MORBID ANGEL on their album "Covenant", BLIND GUARDIAN's "Imaginations from the Other Side", "The Forgotten Tales and Nightfall in Middle-Earth"; ARTILLERY's "By Inheritance" and ENSIFERUM's "Iron"; not mention his work with one of my favorite current bands, EVILE's"Enter The Grave"; to produce their debut album, "Based on Evil", and this is the album I will be reviewing right here.

The album has a promising start with the title-track, a song that starts with a frenetic riff and with Bjerkø's nervous screaming which then leads into a melodic middle passage to in turn return to the hypnotic frenzy of the beginning, all the songs have this sort of "progressive" vibe to them, never one song repeating itself or having a standard Thrash feel to them, they all have their own flavor, almost resembling METALLICA's early work. My favorite songs from this album has got to be "Trapped in Bodies" and"The Killing of Mother Earth", the latter one especially because of its acoustic intro and mature lyric work that denote their ability for writing beyond the standard Metal themes.

In conclusion I can say that TANTARA has released a great debut album and that I can look at the future of Heavy Metal and see that it lies in good hands.