Käptör – Thräshättäkk
Estonia
Gatekeeper Records
There’s
no denying the quality of the Estonian underground scene, with killer bands
like Goatsmegma, Lein, Skullfukk SS, Koffin, Thunraz, etc. Käptör is another
band worthy of adding to the list, having just released their bone-crushing
debut demo, aptly titled “Thräshättäkk”. I haven’t heard any thrash bands from
Estonia prior to reviewing this demo, so it’s always cool to hear new and
upcoming bands, particularly from Northern Europe.
The
demo consists of three tracks and has a playing time of about twelve minutes,
and in that short time you get to hear a healthy dose of
methamphetamine-induced street thrash reminiscent of bands like Slayer, Dark
Angel and Overkill. For a first demo, the band shows a lot of promise, though I
have a feeling they will explore their arsenal a bit more on future releases in
terms of finding their identity. I like the raw approach and fast riffing,
along with the totally analog sound of this recording, which almost sounds like
a rehearsal.
The
vocals have a crossover feel to them and are effectively executed, while the
drums are energetic and non-stop. The riffs are pretty deadly and one of the
band’s strong points. There’s definitely something special about these guys: I
mean, just look at the artwork – it’s cool as hell and screams ‘80s thrash
worship, while the song titles like “Speed & Pöwer” and “Förce öf the
Käptör” are simply badass and say a lot about the band’s attitude. All in all,
Käptör’s first demo is a solid entry into the world of thrash and shows a band
with a lot of potential, so let’s hope they stick around for a few more
releases so we can follow their progress. Solid effort.
