Funeral Rain Press Corps

Genre: Death Metal
Label: Chaos Records

Zombiefication’s Midnight Stench LP is some seriously awesome death metal that’s based in the old school thrash. It’s more of a mid-paced to fast death that reminds me of a mix of Slayer and The Wakedead Gathering.
In other words, nothing very technical, but played with true feeling, people that understand the aesthetics of good old fashioned thrashy death metal, and probably have a few black metal albums in their collection.
As an added bonus, it’s on vinyl, with a silver record in the die-hard edition.
Favorite tracks are “Last Resting Place”, “Cryptic Broadcast”, and “Necroambulatory”.
8 out of 10.

Genre: Thrash
Label: AFM Records

As almost everyone knows, thrash is not my strong point for knowledge. It’s just a genre that I’ve never devoted tons of time to. But about seven seconds into Discipline of Hate I knew I was getting into a thrash album, and I think this might be the album that really makes me a thrash fan.
Picture Slayer and Sepultura, if you’ve never heard Korzus. The classic Brazilian sound with a little bit of Americanization. Fucking heavy, catchy riffs that you end up having in your head for the next hour or more. That kind of thrash.
I think I’m going to screw this promo copy I’ve got and go get the real thing ASAP.
8.5 out of 10.

Korzus on MySpace.

Genre: Thrash
Label: Independent

Take a little bit of Anthrax, pre-’89 Metallica, and a fair amount of Slayer, throw in some Candlemass, and call it Serenity Dies.
With a voice that reminds me a lot of Tom Araya and Messiah Marcolin combined, these guys bring a bit of a slower, chuggy thrash metal to the table. The song “Blood Serenade” is probably the best example of what I mean, and could be the best song on the album. It’s my favorite, at least.
These guys kick ass.
8 out of 10.

Serenity Dies on MySpace.

Genre: Blackened Death Metal
Label: Independent

Channelling old Behemoth, Slayer, and some classic heavy metal, the one-man-band Haiduk is pretty damn good. It’s slightly on the thrashier side of black metal with a definite death metal influence prevalent.
The riffs are strong as steel too. Originality flows through this whole disc, and it’s only a demo.
Easy review here, people. Check out Haiduk, and see if you can get a copy of Plagueswept. They’re only $5.
7.5 out of 10.

Haiduk Official Site.

Genre: Black Metal, Death Metal, Thrash
Label: Hell’s Headbangers

Aussie black metal bastards Destruktor arrive with their debut full length.
Generous amounts of evil and blasphemy come together with a thrashy style of black metal. Having slightly longer song structures to bear their heavy burden, Destruktor have crafted a disk of awesome metal that will get the beer flowing and the necks snapping.
It reminds me of Bathory meeting Slayer and Deicide. Hard, heavy, and out of control, this chaotic album rocks.
7.5 out of 10.