Thrashthermitopathy
For the
first time I found a name ‘Thermit’ in Pure Thrash issue from October, 2013.
Tomasz Woźniak, the editor-in-chief, interviewed this band, also he wrote a
review of “Encephalopathy”. Everything seemed to be pretty gorgeous to me, so I
decided to buy this EP. It was released by the band itself, and with an
infinite patience, after some delays, I’ve got this piece of metal finally: a
modest and solid digipak. Before writing anything about the musical content,
there is a need to give some explanations concerning obvious coherency between
the band’s name and the EP title. According to the English Dictionary, a word
‘thermit’ (exactly ‘thermite’) means: a
mixture of aluminium powder and iron oxide that produces a great deal of heat
when ignited and is used in welding and in incendiary bombs; in turn
‘encephalopathy’: a disease of the brain, esp. one involving alterations of
brain structure. Truly, what an adequate combination! Why? Because with the
first seconds of the “Zombie Lover” song this Posen band serves an excellent
piece of fiery brain-damaging thrash metal, fortunately not in the vein of retro
thrash or being a Sodom’s crippled copyist.
I mean, I
didn’t expect such a record. A good review isn’t enough to praise any slab,
that’s for sure. Here I deal with a young band without a label deal, with
self-financed EP. All the more, the final impressions and feelings concerning
“Encephalopathy” entirety are so enthusiastic. What is more, Thermit doesn’t
propose any cheap imitation, and when nowadays it’s obvious that thrash in the
vein of old Slayer, Sodom or Destruction vomits its crude and hellish tunes and
it is some kind of fashion or trend, this EP is a perfect evidence of, let’s
say, more technical thrashing killings. With absolutely fine production (no
modern artificiality is heard here!), all the instruments and vocals are given
in a straight, crisp and energetic way to my hearing. Of course, you can get
the best studio in whole universe, but you can’t hide the musical defects and
failures of the sounds. Fortunately this band has enormous skills when I look
at their stage experience…
…the skills
that let them gain a splendid level. While thinking about their influences and
possible patterns, a few names come to my mind. Metallica? Yes, in some guitar
layers and the way of riff creating… Jendras, the guitarist, told about
Metallica in interviews, even he said some warm positive words about “Load” and
“Reload” albums. Yep, it seems he is a brave man, but all the influences are
taken definitely from “Ride the Lightning” and “Master of Puppets” albums, and
they refers strictly to the general dynamics and show. However totally
different band attacks my mind when the “Now You See” song starts to rip the
air: Artillery, the Danish dynamite. Just listen to the riffs appearing at
1:35, and compare it to the Artillery stamp. What did I get? A fascinating mix
of two albums “By Inheritance” and “B.A.C.K.”. It is a really thrashing anthem,
sometimes destroying the listener’s brain cells (encephalopathy, am I clear?),
sometimes fearful, fretful, or just being prejudicious to the sanity. Giving
such big names in the case of trying of describing Thermit’s tunes, it’s easy
to realize that the music isn’t light or nice. It’s not simple as well, as the
band diversify the music by adding many rhythm changes, twisted melodies, long
solos and unexpected tunes. And it refers to the each track. Two of them (“Now
You See”, “Second”) have also balladic introductions that brings back two first
Flotsam and Jetsam albums, in turn “Holy Bomb” has adhan samples on the
opening. And I have the only complaints about this song, it should be definitely
longer as it ends too rapidly after a frenzied lead.
While
rummaging in the band’s history, one information should be given during this
review. Namely, Thermit used to be an instrumental crew. And after many vocal
volunteers, Trzeszcz (non-Polish speakers, try to pronounce it smoothly!) has
appeared on the board eventually. To put it briefly: he is a ripper. His parts
are perfect to thrash metal in general meaning, mostly aggressive lines
dominate, although it serves many melodious yet shrill moments in every song. It’s
like a strange mutation of Brian Johnson, Steve Souza, Flemming Rönsdorf, and maybe Hetfield resounds somewhere. I’m exerting myself on
giving some famous and definitely bigger names, however in this case it doesn’t
make any sense: all is built on solid, strong and wall-crushing Trzeszcz’s own pharynx.
He sings variably, and I really do like his modulation from high-pitched to low
performance. All right, vocals are one thing, but what about the
instrumentalists? No fear, as you probably felt it. For sure “Encephalopathy”
is a perfect evidence how a good communication in the band should like. In
consequence I got compact, complete (well-thought with beginnings and ends),
straightforward and ass-kicking compositions. Simply they are very good and it
is very hard to choose the best one, the leader. Maybe “Now You See” (due to
this Artillery’s recollections)? Maybe “Other Man” with beautiful bifarious
guitar lead reminds me of Running Wild (“Rivalry” era) and Iron Maiden? Maybe.
Mind you, that through this mentioned realization of sound, I can admire the
rhythm section’s scourge without any hindrance. This killing duo made of
bass/drums wreaks the havoc in my brain cells, especially during all-powerful slow-downs
(“Second”, “Holy Bomb”). Just then Thermit is like a brain damage inducing
factor.
Writing
about this release, there is a need to call “Thermitallica” song out. This ten
minute colossus that ends this EP is very interesting medley of a dozen or so
Metallica songs. During first listens, somebody could wonder how Thermit did
persuade James Hetfield to sing on this track. How much did they pay him? Of
course, it is not true, as James was busy creating a spectacular, mightful and
universe crumbling sounds of “Lulu”, so luckily… Trzeszcz was forced to do that
by himself only. And again I am under the impression his vocal universalness. A
Polish James Hetfield? Definitely, but with a specific sense of humor. This
song is a very good move, Thermit didn’t record one typical and many times heard
cover-song, they choose a more difficult way to do it, and what is most
important, this is not a “Thermita-Lulu-tica” or somehow I could call it. Short
and sweet, the result is just great, guys!
Does this
band have any chances to succeed? Will they survive amongst the infinite flood
of countless crews trying to show their stuff? I repeat once again, it’s hard
to believe that Thermit is still without a label. Here in Poland, there is a
pressure to spit into the market (or underground) more brutal sounds and this kind
of thrash played and executed by Thermit is definitely aloof. ‘Sory, taki mamy
klimat’, as it was said by a classic not long ago. Reading interviews with
Jendras, I arrive at the conclusions that he (and the rest of the band as well)
is very ambitious, self-confident person with precise vision for the band. And
I hope they have enough enthusiasm, persistence and inner strength to create
such music. I’m not afraid about their musical side, but for sure the debut
album will be a real test for this band. However, personally I don’t believe it
will be released be a Polish label. What a pity! What a loss! This Posen based
band is ready monster to be unleashed amongst the thrash supporters, but not
only, as it can be used as a medicine for all old-school metal (in general) freaks.
It’s a good and lethal weapon to destroy all this shitty pseudo-metal genres:
with strong attitude, killing live performance and splendid music. Do I need
more? No. “Encephalopathy” will burn your cerebrum. If you’re a (thrash) metal
maniac, you’ll be addicted to Thermit sounds for good and all, if you’re a loser
or moron, prepare your brain for an inevitable encephalopathy. There is no
other way.
…somewhere southward of the Sinai Peninsula…
…the unbearable heat was the only thing that
was coming from the heavens and Moses was dog-weary, he raised a left hand and wiped
the drops of sweat off from his forehead and looked ahead. He understood
clearly the Decalogue, the main laws given by the God to him and the
Israelites, but one matter really persecutes him. Namely there was another phrase
that Moses had to engrave in the third stone board. He thought
“n-a-p-i-e-r-d-a-l-a-a-ć… what does it
mean? What unknown language is it? What dialect? Good God…”. He was sure that
his people wouldn’t understand it, just like him, yet he had a strong
presentiment about importance and force of this inexplicable God’s message in
the distant future…
94/100
-Tlacaxipehualiztli
(written on February, 2014)
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