Metal Monday: Thrash Metal Needs Old Tones

Like many fans of heavy metal in the past decade or so, I was happy to see thrash metal enjoy a resurgence in popularity. There was a dark age that lasted for a number of years after the style's original decline in the early '90s, but the next decade saw a slow revival. Lots of bands reunited, new and talented thrash bands formed, and the audiences returned. However, I do have a pet peeve concerning many of the newer releases of thrash metal acts. Namely, I believe that new thrash releases all too often make use of the modern tones associated with metalcore styles when they ideally should not.

Some time ago, I played a track from the latest Destruction album on my show. It was terrible. The track might have had some good guitar riffs, but it was ultimately spoiled by the guitar's tone. The guitars sounded like something from every other mall-metal album, those bassy tones that come from the dual rectifier or some other modern high-gain guitar amplifier. That album is a prime example of a thrash metal band failing. There are, however, some more enlightened acts out there.

I think that Ottawa's Iron Dogs are an example of a speed/thrash metal band getting the style right. Their new album Free and Wild has been getting a lot of spins on my show, and for good reason. It's an album with some old school tones, memorable riffs, and excellent man-yells. Their album makes me want to raise the horns and bang my head. Another favourite of mine is Calgary's Gatekrashor. Their 2012 EPFear of Attack is an all-out old school thrash metal assault, and it is full of excellent jams that will incite headbanging. It has a sound that is straight from 1985, and you definitely want to check it out.

Modern tones on thrash albums are something that should be avoided. They make an album sound cheap, and they might make audiences believe your band to be one that advertises itself as "old school metal with modern sensibilities," which is the worst kind of metal band that there is. Just follow the example of the bands that have made artistic successes in the past couple of years, or don't bother trying to play thrash metal. The choice is yours.

--Sean Z. hosts the Sublime State of Doom, every Monday at 8 PM on CJLO.