Baltimore’s weirdo Thrashers Nuclear Tomb return two years after their debut with their second full length, entitled ‘Epoch Inhumane’, an aptly titled release for Rotted Life records considering the state of the world.
For the uninitiated, the band’s atypical approach to Death-touched Thrash metal relents to none and has zero bounds. The music consistently churns and morphs. The tempos across the whole release switch between a slow march and frantic, unhinged Thrash. The guitar work is largely technical and dissonant, giving it an otherworldly feel (see ‘Broken Promise, Broken Essence’ or the title track).
Though one dimensional, Michael Brown’s voice suits the music and is a perfect vehicle for the dismal tales of humanity’s destruction the band so wishes to tell. All lyrics are enunciated perfectly and allow the listener to really get submersed by the record’s vision. His timing, as well as the entire band’s, is spot on and keeps the execution of the songs as lethal as possible.
Instrumental track ‘Butcher’s Lament’ gives the listener a short bout of reprieve before ‘Terminally Emboldened’ goes for the throat as the record kicks back into light speed. Title track opens with a very early-Testament sounding clean guitar passage and marching guitar stomp before once again throwing the listener blindfolded and head first into an empty pool of off kilter guitar riffage and maniacal hyper speed Thrash drumming.
As a whole, the band successfully flexed their Thrashing muscles of Death on ‘Epoch Inhumane’ in a confident and masterful display of what they are passionate about. Their mission statement was presented with vigor and urgency throughout, and yet the band was still able to successfully experiment with different styles to keep the whole release interesting. ‘Epoch Inhumane’ uniquely and strongly stands on its own two feet as a modern champion of “Weirdo Thrash”.
