Greek metallers SPEEDRUSH have been knocking about since 2005. The Athens wrecking crew aren’t high on output and “Division Mortality” is just their second full length release, out via a Swedish based label. Don’t let that distract you though; these guys go hard with a brand of metal that melds old school ’80s thrash intensity with an exuberance that is intoxicating.
Opening with the title track and a brief spoken word intro, a mighty Judas Priest inspired slab of metal bursts out of the speakers. Chugging riffs accompanied by urgent, wailing lead guitar set the standard before the pure ‘80s West Coast thrash of “Ride With Death”. Very much in the Megadeth mould, it’s a head-banging ‘horns raised in the air’ belter. Nir Beer’s vocals have a MegaDave styled snarl that mixes with a gnarley Tom G Warrior raw animalism.
“Painkiller” era Priest influences loom large over this album which is no criticism at all. Plenty of widdly lead guitar work and venom in the vocal delivery give proceedings a real edge. Tracks like “Sons Of Thunder” show off the album’s clean production which provides plenty of space between all the instruments and gives it a clinical, cutting edge.
Firmly focussed on heads-down fury, there are welcome moments where the pace briefly steps back to a more midtempo beat which is effective on tracks like “Divine Damnation”. The riff becomes sinister and sounds like Venom mixed with a little NWOBHM melody.
“Iron Wisdom” and “Beyond The Vortex” throw in a little NWOBHM punk-edged angst which gives these two numbers a caged, primal feel.
The acoustic outro “Fade To Flames” is unexpected; a Spanish styled, melancholy aura that could be straight out of a Metallica album from their commercial period.
Overall, “Divine Mortality” is a traditional ’80s metal album, an old-school thrasher at its’ heart. Speedrush have conjured the essence of the genre and it is a head banging joy. What is very obvious though, is a group of lads who are thoroughly enjoying themselves.
This album is just one of those that gives pure metal enjoyment.
Highly Recommended
Tracklist:
01. Division Mortality (Intro) (03:15)
02. Ride With Death (04:36)
03. Feeding the Carnivores (05:28)
04. Sons of Thunder (05:06)
05. Blood Legacy (04:11)
06. Divine Damnation (04:14)
07. Iron Wisdom (05:18)
08. Beyond the Vortex (06:33)
09. Fade to Flames (Outro) (02:39)
Speedrush – Division Mortality (2024)
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