When you go and buy this EP, you also need to remember beers. A lot of beer. Speed and thrash metals were born during wet beer-filled nights, I bet. Anyway, Devastracktor's mission is to keep those styles alive, and this definitely does not sound like guys are suffering from damage to their nervous systems, no matter how much beer went down when they worked on this one. They formed in 2009, but it would be stupid to call 'em retro-thrashers, or something like that.

First, they do not sound exactly similar to any other speed/thrash band I've heard. That is a fine accomplishment in itself. The ripping riff that brings in the metal on the title track, is still very German-ish. It shows that the band truly mean it, as there's no time to fuck around. It is a broadside of hectic thrashing until evil slower part, that mutates into a rhythm section orgy and then into a guitar solo bit. Guitarist Aki Järvinen (Goretorture, ex-Torn, ex-Axegressor etc.) carries a rather unique style; his game music covers veils his influences of computer muzak. One can hear it in his playing, and even in his guitar tones.

'Diesel Cobra' has some Testament/Kreator/Xentrix style riffing, and is a tad harmonic and calmer when compared to the title track. Its long guitar soloing part (over one and a half minutes of it) raises the melodiousness of the song, but instead of pushing it off the track, it gives it more substance in a good way. 'Hangoverkill' is a minute longer, hitting the six-minute mark. It does carry some influences of old Overkill, meaning that heavy metal feel in its thrashing action. Again, the song has enough transitions, preventing it from bogging down and passing out.

Xentrix cover 'For Whose Advantage?' is great, simple as that. Okay, I love the song, but it shows a tad more technical side of Devastracktor. The song was a big hit on MTV's "Headbangers Ball" show, and that's how I found the band. The cover version is close to the original (minus the speeches, though). This song pointed out for me, how vocalist Jaakko Riihimäki sounds comparatively similar to Chris Astley. So, expect some dry, tonsil-ripping high-velocity vocalisation. And hitting some different notes, at least, while sounding somewhat pissed off. Sound-wise this is a bit tame, but what's better is the balancing of everything, plus the clearness of the sound. While the rhythm section gives a good backbone to other elements, it's the drums' production that somewhat lacks of balls.

Best served with cheapest possible palm-warm beer, and that's not a negative thing to say about Devastracktor and this piece of thrash metal. It is too short for getting wasted during it, at least without having repeated listenings. 'Beer Force One' is an entertaining slab of thrash/speed metal, and it does carry some character for the band. Not that it's something like novelty.

Rating: 7½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
10/08/2013 21:25