Canadian thrash metal veterans Infernal Majesty may not be the most prolific band when it comes to putting out new music but their long experience in the metal world shows you dont need to rely on the same tricks to make a good thrash metal record.
“No God” is the newest album from the thrashers and they well and truly step it up from their previous albums and pull no punches in delivering a no holds barred pure metal record that retains some of the original thrash ideas but adding a strong mixture of modern metal elements with enough hooks and melody to drive you insane.
What really stands out on the album which in part does come down to a slick production, is how modern and tight the songs sound. Sometimes thrash metal can sound a little rehashed at times but Infernal Majesty made sure these songs sound relevant and fresh. From the opening headbanger “Enter The World Of The Undead” to the industrial sounding “In God You Trust” to even “The Signs Of Evil” with it’s modern twist on the classic genre, each track is heavy, groovy and is addictively tantalising with every new riff around the corner. Sure you still hear moments of old school Slayer and the like, “Kingdom Of Heaven” has touches of it for example but it’s overwashed by gleaming spots of today’s production counterbalanced with an aggression that’s raw and primal at the same time. Vocalist Chris Bailey does a great job of keeping those raw elements in line as he growls his way through an entire album full of gutteral roars and slabs of monster riffs that twist and turn through groove based tempos.
The title track is a highlight on the album too with a more epic feel that seems longer than the 6 minutes on offer, a little progressive but hooky and memorable nonetheless. The only downside to the album however is the final 3 tracks which kind of deviate from the onslaught of the rest of the album. A little darker in tone and a bit more calmer in general, the band play around with a bit more melody and atmosphere that may have fit better had they been spread around the tracklist a bit more but still the songs have that awesome groove that has become a theme on “No God”.
Overall a great album by the thrash veterans who hopefully will keep the creative momentum up by continuing on with more albums like this.
TRACKLIST
Enter The World Of The Undead
In God You Trust
Signs Of Evil
Another Day In Hell
Kingdom Of Heaven
No God
False Flag
Nation Of Assassins
House Of War
Systematical Extermination
Extinction Level Event