The Texas thrashonistas double down with gleefully cheesy Godzilla-inspired artwork and classically hyperbolic lyrics.
Review by David Feltman
Thrash had all but passed from metal consciousness. Nu-metal came and went (thankfully) and metalcore claimed the throne of the sub-genre du jour. But there’s been a recent resurgence and renewed interest in thrash. The Big Four all started releasing new and noteworthy albums. Hell, Metallica even started trying to play metal again after 20 years. But the most interesting products of this revival have been the new faces. Bands like Evile, Municipal Waste and the brand new Warbeast have mined new life from the old genre.
Warbeast’s debut full-length album, Destroy, offers everything old metal heads love about thrash. Every song is as fast and heavy as a bullet train. The Texas thrashonistas double down with gleefully cheesy Godzilla-inspired artwork and classically hyperbolic lyrics like, “Warbeast feels no mercy, Warbeast feeds on fear, Warbeast knows no pity, Death machine.” The band delights in singing about various gigantic monsters and world rattling battles. The sense of humor in its false bravado makes the band a joy to spend time with.
When Warbeast occasionally relents and downshifts into a mid-tempo groove, as on “Egotistical Bastard,” the Texas roots, and particularly Pantera’s influence, are evident. Drummer Joe Gonzales masterfully manages the pulse of the album by going light on the blast beats and instead providing a massive clattering groundwork for the rest of the band.
Warbeast is a no-brainer for metal fans. Destroy is the perfect album to keep your Slayer and Kreator LPs company and liven up your playlist. You can learn more about Warbeast at their official site and on Facebook.
