Bloodstone have been doing their thing since 2004, keeping the old-school Thrash Metal spirit alive in Singapore without chasing whatever happens to be fashionable at the time. ‘Electrocution’ is a very good example of why that approach still works. Released through Awakening Records, this is a straight-up Thrash record that knows exactly what it wants to be and delivers it with plenty of conviction.
‘Beyond Death’ sets the tone immediately with sharp-edged guitars, pounding drums and that unmistakable old-school Thrash attitude. The riffs have plenty of bite without becoming a blur, and Bloodstone clearly understand that aggression alone isn’t enough. There needs to be a good riff underneath it, and there are plenty of those here.
‘The Narcissist’ follows with a compact, angry attack while ‘Hellbound’ opens things up a little more. What works particularly well throughout ‘Electrocution’ is the way Bloodstone keep the songs moving. They aren’t simply throwing speed at the listener from beginning to end. There are changes in pace, heavier passages and plenty of guitar work to keep things interesting.
The twin guitar attack of H.J. Possessed and David E. Jaded is one of the album’s biggest strengths. There is a strong ’80s Thrash influence running through the record, but the playing doesn’t come across as some exercise in nostalgia. The guitars have plenty of weight and character, especially when the band drop into those heavier riffs.
Qadir M. Thunder’s vocals are another good fit. His delivery has that rough, pissed off quality that suits the music and the subjects behind the songs. Politics, war, capital punishment, frustration with society and dissatisfaction with the system give the album plenty of fuel, and the vocals carry that anger without sounding forced.
‘Parasite’ and ‘Meat Grinder’ are particularly strong examples of Bloodstone’s more aggressive side. ‘Meat Grinder’ has a filthy old-school Thrash feel that should appeal to anyone who grew up on the genre’s classic records, while ‘Immortalize’ brings another memorable set of riffs before the title track kicks in.
‘Electrocution’ itself is exactly the kind of song you would expect at the heart of this album. Fast, aggressive and built around riffs that actually stick, it captures what Bloodstone are about without overcomplicating things. ‘Born to Lose, Out to Lunch’ keeps the momentum going before the unexpected closing track, ‘Highwayman’, a Jimmy Webb cover. It is an interesting choice and gives the album a different flavour right at the end.
The production deserves mention too. K.K. Wong, better known as Wong Ah Boy and TNT, handles the production, engineering and mixing, giving the album a solid balance between clarity and rawness. The guitars have plenty of bite, the drums retain their punch and the bass isn’t completely buried underneath the guitars. Nothing sounds excessively polished, which works in Bloodstone’s favour.
What makes ‘Electrocution’ work for me is that Bloodstone don’t try to reinvent Thrash Metal. They don’t need to. They understand the style, they write good riffs, they put together memorable songs and they play them with conviction. After more than two decades in the Singapore underground, the band clearly know what they are doing.
This is a killer album from a band that has stayed true to its roots while still sounding hungry. ‘Electrocution’ is aggressive, catchy, straightforward and packed with enough good riffs to keep coming back to. Singapore Thrash is alive and Bloodstone are still putting in the work.
A fucking killer Thrash record from beginning to end.
