Whilst doing some research for this review I counted 31 bands, past and present all called TORMENT.  This version are the only Thrash Metal outfit called thus from Milan Italy.  Starting life in 2002 as a Thrashing covers band, TORMENT have, it is fair to say, a turbulent history of unstable line ups over the years and a couple of "pauses".  The current line up is not the same trio who recorded this album.  "The War They Feed" is in fact the bands third full length album.

Their sound is no nonsense straight-up Thrash, no frills, no detours into proggier areas, just heads down, foot on the hard peddle, fast as can be Thrash.  They have played on the same stages with some decent names such as ONSLAUGHT and TANKARD to name a couple.

And they don't make a bad sound, Fabri's voice has just the right amount of gravel and rasp. His guitar work is on point, as is Ugo's Bass and Guis' drumming is powerful.  All in all they are a decent Thrash band, there isn't enough to elevate them to sufficiently stand out from the moshpit.

None of the nine songs on offer here are bad.  They do what they do just fine and the level is consistently OK.

For me though one song stands out from the pack and that is the title track "The War They Feed".  The parts all work together, the tempo, the vocals, the riffing, the bassline, the grunting, give it a Punky, Thrashy edge over the rest.  Two more songs on this level and this would have been an outstanding album.  There is another which comes close.  "The Tunnel" is again a very tasty morsel, nearly as good and better than most.

So not a bad album, I was hoping it was a grower, but I'm afraid not, after a couple of spins the track that do stand out, still do, and nothing joins them.  Perhaps some stability in the line up, and getting some live time next year will do this trio some real good.  There is a decent foundation to build on for sure.

Oh, one last thing.  The cover is truly terrible.  So bad its good terrible. A bunch of people having a heated discussion in a well lit alleyway. Nope I could not see any relevance, sorry Mr. artist, but no!