The Armor-piercing Depository
The first
mention about this band I found in Thrash Attack #10 zine, where name VX has
been given during the describing Heavy Metal Espectros Festival in Murcia,
Spain. Then I decided to check out the Spaniards by myself and know what is all
about. Musical entirety is some kind of novelty for me, because when the land
of Spain is concerned, I get recently either pure heavy traditional stuff, or
old school ancient death metal miasms. VX is the first band executing thrash /
speed metal from this land, and it is very interesting whether I can keep that
“Contraataque” next to the best Spanish metal releases. The front cover shows a
tank spitting missile with the band’s name, firing its pom-pom and crushing
some heads belonging to the unbelievers and posers I guess. However the picture
isn’t special and original on the metal scene, I took the liberty on asking one
fundamental question: is this real killing war machine and devastating the
senses or just a poor cartoon-like imitation?
It starts
off with quite calm guitar (yes, no keyboards included!) marching intro, then
after sixty seconds the missile leaves a barrel. The explosion gunfire becomes
fast speedy parts of riffs driving my mind to… Slayer heritage. Yep, in
addition from “Reign in Blood” and “South of Heaven” era luckily. But, there is
something wrong (?) with the sound. I agree it has a light flavor of the
eighties, yet the guitars seem to be too soft and without a power, unlike the
rhythm section with perfectly recorded and performed bass section of Jose Morán.
I gave first famous name, however “Ira VX” may lead into error. It’s quite
different as compared to the rest of the songs, yet saying it doesn’t fit to
the whole “Contraataque” entirety, would be nonsensical misuse. Well, the band
simply changes the direction and begins its journey straight to the German
land, envisaging the king called Tankard! Yes, exactly, this smashing beer crew
is the main influence for the next Spaniards offers. Just listen to the third
track “Metal sin parar” which I treat the best one here, just then times of
“The Morning After” and the nineties albums (emphatically on “Two-Faced”) cross
my mind. But this is the main evidence I consider VX a thrash band more than
speed. The latter parts taken from Canadian gods Razor or Exciter are audible
in furious guitar attacks, yet they are served in lesser extent definitely. The
well-known riffs smoothly posses my senses, giving a good tasty whiles of
hectic music. Guitar leads performed by Javier Castellanos try to create rather
long melodic layers than chaotic shots, definitely with the best one in
“Asalto”. The band put also some short introductions (beginning of “Asalto” and
“La gola de l'infern”) and even if I consider such doings as redundant, it isn’t
a disturber here.
It is
always easy to fall into a trap of boredom and makes some yawns. The band knows
it and tempo changes aren’t anything uncommon. My attention is still maintained
on the proper level, there is no any moments that make my mind get stranded. I
mean, banging all the time. What is more, my children have another lesson of
Spanish language (as the lyrics are sung in it), you know, not only Martina
Stoessel and Jorge Blanco known from cult Disney serial. Yes, as the Spanish is
called out just now, it is a good moment to write something about Diego Mateo
and his throat. Even if on the beginning I wasn’t too convinced to his
performance, several spins gave me a better insight into his role in the band. For
sure he operates pretty strange hybrid of Gerre and Mille Petrozza, decorated
by theatrical-like kind of sinusoid that ranges from high pitch (sometimes similar
to blackish screams) to low, almost guttural short exhalements. Yes, Diego is a
strong part of the team.
That’s true
that VX isn’t original outfit, but I don’t search for it. Thrash should be
thing that kicks my ass and the listening time with “Contraataque” wasn’t a
waste. Maybe the picture tank isn’t invincible piece of steel, and maybe
aforementioned missile isn’t nuclear or ballistic, it is a solid armor piercing
shell for sure. One can say that is always better to listen to originals and probably
he would be right. But, for me, it is a great adventure to discover another new
crews raising from the depths of the underground and bringing the music I love.
Such a band is VX, it is not a revelation on the scene, but their music is
simply decent. The patterns are obvious and they know how to mix it in proper
devastating way. This hot dish I swallow without any hindrance. Asalto otra vez!!!
75/100
-Tlacaxipehualiztli
(written on December, 2014)
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