Thrash metallers Pitiful Reign hail from the east coast of England, a town called Hull. In the end of 1980s and early 1990s, renowned Re-Animator thrashed the place up, and now it is time for new generation. Blessed with bonafide, fine looks painted by legendary Ed Repka, 'Visual Violence' is the follow-up for the band's debut album 'Toxic Choke' (2006).

Pitiful Reign are a band, who never ever wanted to play anything else but from their hearts. And their hearts lay in old Bay Area thrash mixed with some modern Destruction style stuff. So originality flies out of window before anything. If you want sharp riffage, groovy moshable beats and shouty vocals assault (with some shrieks in vein of Destruction's Schmier). Well, it is important to keep songs in motion and that's what Pitiful Reign succeed in. The songs are catchy, surely, but all the same they feel so familiar. So if you feel contented with the style, not progress or uniqueness, then Pitiful Reign are worth your time.

The band's performance is good throughout. The sound is very clear, but still powerful enough. No triggers or such noticed, so it sounds "organic". I just love that slapping bass playing! Brings some good memories from the past... If there is something to bash on 'Visual Violence', it is the lyrics which are partly very corny and in one word, crap.

'Visual Violence' is such an album, that some legendary bands didn't want to record after their great records, because they wanted to progress and make their music visible through MTV (made to vanish). Worth your time if true thrash metal is your thingy.

Rating: 7 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
09/15/2009 19:19