Paganfire – Of Deathblades And Bloodsoaked Paths...
The Philippines
Bandcamp
Thrash is definitely not dead, and Paganfire proves this with their latest opus, "Of Deathblades And Bloodsoaked Paths...", which is a total poser holocaust from beginning to end.
Over the years, the band has put out a dozen demos, EPs, and splits, but for some reason, this is only their second full-length. They are definitely an underground band in the true sense of the word.
Paganfire's brand of thrash is unyielding, brutal, and energetic, often defying easy categorization due to sounding rawer and more violent than most bands in the genre. Make no mistake, this is essentially thrash, but with more than a fair share of black/death influences in their sound.
As opener "Bloodsoaked Life" kicks in, guitarists Nonoy and M.A. complement each other with a plethora of cunt-shredding riffs, brutalizing ears with sheer ferocity and precise arrangements. Riffs are aplenty and Paganfire makes good use of them.
Alvaro's screams are fierce, pissed off, and in your face, as he utters every word with intense determination.
Paganfire follows the tradition of having solos in their music, as each track features at least one solo, but also inflicts trauma with Jay's hard-hitting, yet well-played drums and Alvaro's thunderous bass lines. As a whole, each member contributes to the madness, yielding a sickened and furious slab of skull-fucking thrash that will leave you wanting more.
On "Poseurdom Shall Fall" you can hear infernal riffs and screams reminiscent of Sarcofago, while "The Executor is Back" is a fiery track filled with razor-sharp solos and a Slayer-inspired riff towards the end.
The cover art is perfect for this kind of thrash and gives a good indication of the band's sound and ethos.
Paganfire's second album was well worth the wait and features some of the best material they've released so far. In my opinion, "Of Deathblades And Bloodsoaked Paths..." is the best thrash album of the year, and if not, it sure as hell comes close. Check them out if you enjoy Num Skull, Sarcofago, and Demolition Hammer. Apparently, a few labels will release this, although the labels haven't been announced yet. (HT)