Finally in 2019 we get another record from punk thrashers Toxic Holocaust and only fitting is the title “Primal Future: 2019”. It’s been 6 long years since “Chemistry Of Consciousness” was released and this time the mastermind behind the band, Joel Grind takes on all aspects of the music and drives Toxic Holocaust into a technological dystopian future while also take a look back at not only 20 years of the band but tipping the proverbial thrash hat to that 80’s sound that we know and love.
It’s always a good time when a new record from a band you absolutely love rears it’s head lovingly through long awaited doors. Toxic Holocaust is one band I simply cannot get enough of and if this review comes across as completely biased, you damn right it is! Fed up with some of the boring garbage that’s been rammed down our throats which is anything but remotely interesting despite their popularity, I show absolutely no remorse in saying Toxic Holocaust is back with a vengeance in true vintage metal fashion. Here we see Joel Grind taking full reigns of the operation by having a hand in virtually all aspects of the album including the instrumentation and the recording, mixing and mastering. Unsurprisingly really considering during the 6 year period from the last record, he has been fairly busy taking on much of those duties with other bands and albums to the point of honing his skills on an under appreciated aspect of music.
Sure “Primal Future” sounds like your usual Toxic Holocaust album but there’s more to the underlining than what would otherwise go largely unnoticed. First off Joel’s vocals are less punishing in that gravelly type voice heard on much of the previous albums and instead we hear a more punk infused vocal style that some might say is a little more digestable in some ways. Even musically this album definitely leans a little more on the punk side even though there is plenty of thrashing riffs to wrap your ears and air guitar playing around. The opening track and first preview of the album “Chemical Warlords” is vintage sounding thrash punk at it’s best, with the word vintage being emphasised as Toxic Holocaust fans will no doubt hear some of the more early sounds of the band popping up all over the place here. Even the ending has a weirdly early Motley Crue 1-2 gritty rock beat, complete with chugging riffs and bass driven beat that makes you want to dance more than thrash. It’s already so much fun to listen to and we’re only 1 track in.
“Black Out Code” slides the tempo up a notch with a more thrashier tone and some ferocious guitar playing that borders on relentless, face melting stuff. Same with the shorter “Deafened By The Roar“, a straight to the point punk rocker with Joel spitting out one liners amidst the wall of sound. “Time’s Edge” continues on that same line of uptempo stuff but giving a nod back at some of those early pioneers like Metallica and Slayer along with the likes of Venom, Discharge and D.R.I and injecting some brilliant hooks and memorable melodies that Toxic Holocaust do so well. It’s not just pummeling thrash and that’s what makes it stand out so much, there’s dynamics here like on “New World Beyond” which is a highlight on the album. Switching down to mid-tempo, there’s some massive riffing going on here that makes you want to smash everything around you, it’s punk rock mentality but with a heavy dose of metal.
The title track is another solid number, going for some good old fashioned foot stomping action and resulting in some breathing space before switching up the groove factor times 10 by the second half of the song. The album also never lets up in the back half with “Iron Cage” leading the way into the magic that is “Controlled By Fear” with some scorching moments of brilliance as well as the fast paced “Aftermath” which almost steals the show right near the end of the album.
Even the final song “Cybernetic War” is a winner, brandishing a more classic heavy metal sound with guitar harmonies and galloping riffs within a futuristic sci-fi vibe. I mean this is top 10 album of the year kind of material here, the kind of album that just says fuck you to the mainstream and just keeps giving you the real deal. Like I said, I’ll be as biased as hell in this review and only hardcore Toxic Holocaust fans will truly understand why this album is a solid piece of work. But if you love your metal fun and heavy, slick but raw and just so goddamn good in all areas, you just can’t go wrong with this album. It’s vintage Toxic Holocaust in more ways than one.
10/10
TRACKLIST
Chemical Warlords
Black Out The Code
New World Beyond
Deafened By The Roar
Time’s Edge
Primal Future
Iron Cage
Controlled By Fear
Aftermath
Cybernetic War
