Poland's Whorehouse put out 'Corporation', their sophomore full-length album, in 2017. The debut, 'Execution of Humanity' was released in 2009. Talk about a deliberation moment there!

Anyway, the debut was quite an angry piece of Bay Area influenced thrash metal, and this second one doesn't really differ that much. Maybe this is a bit more modern-sounding effort, often sounding pretty similar to nowadays' Testament. Churning, down-tuned riffing is what's in these days, not that old style ripping tremolo stuff. Palm-muted or not, it sounds pretty hammering, if not quite what Demolition Hammer or others truly heavy-hitting thrashers have done. Added are attention-grabbing leads, which are at times very good. Guitar solos vary from melodic pieces to Slayer-esque insane fretboard escapades. All things considered, the guitar work on this album is heavy and rather vivid, but still far from more shredding guitarists' playing. Plus it's all typical.

The vocals bring in a portion of streetwise attitude, hardcore, even. Rattling, tense throat vocals do not strecth into many forms. There are a few forays of singing, kind of, covering a bit wider spectrum, but it can get tedious pretty fast. The lyrical topics are what's expected: War, new world order, pollution... But you can make cool song without vocals, as 'Anguis in Herba' shows anyway. When thinking about streetwise, there are bits in music, too, reminding about Pro-Pain, for example. Everything's not about finger-twisting guitar playing.

The drums are varying, offering thrashy beats as well as blast beating and double kick drum punts. A wide extent of cymbals utilized made me think of Gene Hoglan's octopussian style of drumming. Or rather, playing them drums. The drumming brings so much energy here, that it often lifts the album to higher class. Talk about a band being the sum of its parts. But then again, the bass guitar is down there with the guitars; they are in unison, and no Les Claypool-ish wobbling must be expected here. Well, it provides weight...

Cool, if sooooo damn thrashy, cover artwork is ace, and should grab eyes of any thrash maniac shuffling through platters in a record store (a soon bygone luxury of a music fan?!?!). Whorehouse have one foot in the past, more accurately speaking, in 1990s, and the other one right here, right now. 'Corporation' is not totally essential, but still it manages to deliver some for those who want their thrash metal heavy yet with melodic pinch.

Rating: 7- (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
05/01/2018 11:26