Italian label Punishment 18 Records do put out a lot of albums with new bands playing old school thrash metal. Sometimes it happens with somewhat flimsy standard, but sometimes the label really manage to warm that pizza 'n' beer pestered heart of an old thrasher. Although Canadian Arkayic Revolt have existed for no more than two years now, it's easy to say that these guys got it. Vocalist/guitarist Darryl Fletcher and drummer Brett Swan have mutual history in Lunacy, but that band's music was nothing like Arkayic Revolt's stuff that reeks of nuclear waste.

So, old school thrash metal. Another bunch of copycats or a band with a face of their own? As the band plays old school stuff, it surely has a familiar ring to it, there is no doubt about it. However, Arkayic Revolt have loads of influences, which are put through a mincer at a same time, so there aren't too many moments of imitating.

It's safe to say, that Arkayic Revolt sound totally North American, from coast-to-coast. There are both San Francisco Bay Area and New York stylings. The pace varies nicely from song to song, making the album feel airy. But it is not airy in a bad way, because the playing is very tight. The vibe of the songs go from intensive to more streetwise, rocking. Three bands that come to my mind at every turn during the album are Exodus, Overkill and Vio-lence. The title track ending the album, is certainly different with its death metal picking and gloomy parts. I wish to hear more this kind of stuff from the band also next time, because it is not too different, but nicely so.

The playing is tight as mentioned. It has pure energy and small production details, e.g. hearing fingers moving on strings, lift the atmosphere. The guitars sound ripping, the drums tight, but the bass is a bit weak. The vocals are good all around. Basic voice is angry enough and also soulful. There's also some melodic bits, which do work. Varying syllabication in the songs raises the amount of diversity, which is more than welcome. The cover artwork, first drawn with marker pens, then coloured with computer, gets one thumb up for being somewhat different for a thrash metal platter, but still being simple when compared to other similar works (e.g. Iced Earth, Jag Panzer and Demons & Wizards).

Of course this album will never be a real legend, not when released in 2010. But if this came out in 1990, who knows if this was nowadays remembered as a classic, or at least well acknowledged album. Good old school thrash metal!

Rating: 7½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
05/13/2010 00:31