Acid Mass

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Band(s): Acid Mass
Label(s): Self-Released
Release Format(s): Digital, EP
Release Year: 2024
Review Date: November 10, 2024
Author(s): FelixS

Yes, I have said it before and I will probably mention it again in the future: the advantage of having a one-man band is that you can crank out stuff as much and fast as you can, in the end there is nobody to consult or to argue with. Disadvantage, at least from a listener’s position, is that you can easily be overwhelmed by the amount of material that is being produced, consequently, you can even miss out on a few things every now and then. That exactly was the case with me and Acid Mass.

I was very fond of the ‘Lust For Violence’ EP from spring 2023, but it turns out: if you don’t pay attention for a moment, you are behind in no time… So meanwhile, Ben Ricketts has already released a full-length album in autumn of the same year and followed it up with the recently released sophomore album ‘Worship’, but in between was this EP, ‘Upon The Knife’. Before I would dive into that newest album, it only makes sense to give ‘Upon The Knife’ a shot first, so here we go.

‘Lust For Violence’ was such a great and tasty little scoundrel because it combined a bit of almost every genre. It has a lot of Speed and Thrash Metal, but also some Heavy Metal and even a certain Death Metal vibe as well as a bit of proto Black Metal. And, as a sort of icing on the cake: it is as sleazy and punky as phuck. While I have missed out on the ‘Agonizer’-album (of course I have checked it out by now), it is safe to say that nothing really has changed since Acid Mass’ first recordings.

It is still a great and tasty hotchpotch of all things nasty and greasy. The basis however, is now more profoundly a Thrash Metal one, be it a sleazy sort of Thrash Metal. But while it is indeed a bawdy sort of Thrash Metal, there is a huge Slayer-vibe throughout these four tracks. That is especially evident on ‘Neutralizer’ (and to a lesser extent on the title track as well), that harkens back to Slayer’s late 80’s period, with a main riff that could very well be taken from a leftover track of ‘Seasons In The Abyss’ or ‘South Of Heaven’. But Ricketts still knows how to twist his songs into a punky affair that is something halfway between Toxic Holocaust and Midnight.

Wrapping things up is quite simple, these 11+ minutes of fun stuff are super uncomplicated and unnecessary for any further dissecting. This is the sort of music you can enjoy any time of the day/week, but, and I think I’ve said this before, this would be ideal to see live in a packed, sweaty pub.

VM-UNDERGROUND

Extreme Metal Fanzine est. 2012

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Acid Mass – Upon The Knife [EP]

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