Album review: Thunraz - Borderline (2023)

Thunraz - Borderline

Self-released

Estonia

Thunraz is a death metal project from Estonia (Northern Europe), consisting of Madis Jalakas, and “Borderline” is the third album (and the fifth release overall) under the project’s name.

It’s worth noting that Thunraz released two albums in 2023: “Revelation” and “Borderline” So how does “Borderline” compare to “Revelation”, you might ask? Well, “Borderline” hits every bit as hard as its predecessor. If anything, the album sounds heavier and more chaotic, with nine tracks of devastating and soul-crushing death metal that also incorporates influences from hardcore and doom.

The recording has a murky quality to it, yet everything sounds comparatively audible. On the previous album, Jared Moran (Acausal Intrusion, Psionic Madness, etc.) played drums, but on this recording Madis pretty much handled everything himself, from bass to guitars to vocals to drums, and did an excellent job.

The guitar rhythms are tighter than Rambo’s headband, with exceedingly heavy riffs that maul you like a spiked whip, coupled with flexible bass riffs and pugnacious vocals that range from martial growls to hellish screams. The inclusion of clean vocals makes the songs more interesting and even reminded me of Dax Riggs from Acid Bath. The sludge influence is obvious due to the slow-to-mid tempos, although it’s interesting how the songs manage to sound so discordant even during the slower segments.

The atmosphere on this release is exceptionally dark and melancholic, often bordering on black metal, although it’s not impossible to assume that there’s some black metal influence given the hopeless and negative texture of the music. If anything, I'd say Thunraz is in a class of their own as they combine an array of influences and yet miraculously make it work with relative ease as each composition is cohesive, succinct and straight-to-the-point.

Some bands that come to mind while listening to Thunraz include Immolation, Acid Bath, Soilent Green and Godflesh. These reference points should more or less give you an idea of what to expect. Every track on this album is killer, but some highlights include “Monument”, “Weight of Time” and “You and Me” (unarguably the apex of the album).

Thunraz is an underground extreme metal project that categorically puts out great releases for the style they play. This being said, “Borderline” is a solid offering from beginning to end, with 30 minutes of deranged Death Metal madness that will make all pretenders leave the hall, as the music on this release comes from a sincere and dark place.

Interview: Thunraz

 

THUNRAZ from Estonia play hard-hitting, hellishly heavy Death Metal/sludge that hits you like a freight train at 1000 MPH. Their penchant for innovation and writing quality music full of emotion sets them apart from some of their peers. If you enjoy a somewhat original approach, like some of the bands mentioned in this interview (Immolation, Today is The Day, Godflesh, etc.), then I recommend you to check them out. I consider myself a fan and have enjoyed albums like “Revelation” and “Borderline” (both released in 2023). So without further ado, here is my interview with founder/mastermind Madis Jalakas.
 
1. Hello there! Can you tell us how Thunraz was conceived and what the band is all about?
 
Madis: Greetings. Thunraz was started in 2017, after a period of significant emotional struggles for which I needed an outlet. It's become a way for me to process certain realities by aggressively confronting them. To establish some freedom in what feels increasingly like a locked cage.
 
2. Can you elaborate a bit on your sound and influences?
 
M: The initial spiritual and musical impetus for the project was the band Bölzer from Switzerland. I liked how they were a two-piece that sounded huge, and tried in my own way to emulate that. You'll hear their influence mainly on Hinterland in the tracks Stronghold of Fire, Invocation and Dysgenesis. Other influences would quickly seep in from bands such as Immolation, Godflesh and Neurosis. Some lesser known names like Cattle Press and Starkweather would inspire the approach to slower tempos, and bands such as Kobong and Meshuggah, as well as chaotic hardcore/metalcore from the 90's, would inspire the angular riffs and rhythmic diversity.

To me it's just heavy, pissed off metal without boundaries. Past my initial attempts, there has scarcely been a moment where I consciously decided what to write.

3. Why isn’t your band signed? Do you think that geography and the fact that you are not gimmicky plays some sort of factor why some labels won't work with you? 

M: There actually was a signed contract for Hinterland, but beyond some other minor collaborations, it has been difficult to find interested parties. I would say that the nature of modern social media marketing plays a big part. There are algorithmic reasons why it's harder for original material to push through. Greater content saturation also means greater competition and a need for labels to hyper-specialize. Same applies to bands.
That said, it is a bit amusing to be told, "Yes, it's good, but I don't know how to sell this". At some point all the bands that everyone considers as genre classics were doing something new that nobody knew how to market. I wish more people took a chance. Not just labels, but music fans in general. There are many cool projects out there that deserve your attention.

4. Thunraz released two very solid albums in 2023, although we will dissect them one by one. First, Revelation: This album is pretty sick and I love the diverse influences that went into it, from old-school death to chaotic hardcore to some pure black metal riffs. What was the overall vision and approach to “Revelation”?
 
M: "Revelation" was born from a collaborative effort between me and creative madman Jared Moran (Acausal Intrusion, Speed Ritual Records, etc.). He created the drum tracks based on a few keywords from me (OSDM, technical sludge), which I then improvised on top of in a quite intuitive fashion. I'm glad you enjoy it!

5. The follow-up, entitled “Borderline”, is even more manic. I feel like this album is heavier, and I love those moody clean vocals. Where did the idea to utilize clean vocals come from? Are you by any chance a fan of Acid Bath? How do you feel “Borderline” compares to “Revelation”?

M: I am actually a huge fan of Acid Bath, although Dax has more of a blues influence to his singing. Some other bands that mixed vocal styles and inspired me are Today is the Day, Section 8, and Demanufacture-era Fear Factory. Honestly, even bands like Deftones and Helmet. How it compares? I think the noisecore/metalcore influence is more obvious. "Borderline" is much more musically diverse than anything I've done before.

 

6. What are some of the themes you explore with Thunraz and where do you draw inspiration from?
 
M: Usually there will be something I'm dealing with, whether it be a personal problem, a philosophical question, or some socio-political topic that is making me mad enough to write lyrics about. I'm interested and passionate about many things, so sticking to one or two themes could never sustain my interest and would stifle a project that's meant to be freeing. Quite a few of the songs deal with several subjects. The first lyrics I actually felt strongly enough to sing had to do with the death of a close friend and the perpetual misery of nearly everyone around me. If there is an overarching theme, it's my refusal to quietly tolerate the daily horrors of existence.

7. The track ‘You and Me’ from “Borderline” has some of the sickest riffs and is easily one of your best songs. A pure masterpiece. Can you give us some insight on what this song is about?
 
M: Thank you! "You and Me" details what can happen if two thoroughly traumatized people meet each other and try to build a life together, with way too many obstacles in their path. For me it forms the emotional and thematic centrepiece of the album.

 
8. The music of Thunraz is dark, chaotic, and depicts real emotion, whereas most extreme metal acts lack any sort of emotion or feeling. Would you describe your music as angry, misanthropic, and do you think original bands are in short supply these days?
 
M: I wouldn't say that most extreme metal acts lack feeling, but death metal in particular might not be seen as the most appropriate vehicle to deliver these super personal expressions of pain. Black metal is a bit better suited for it, but even in that context the expressions seem to fit a certain character that becomes predictable after a while (like in DSBM). I enjoy a lot of these bands nevertheless, but I want absolute creative freedom, no matter who it displeases.

How angry or misanthropic my music is relative to others is up for the listener to decide. I can only say that if I truly believed there were no solutions, I'd be dead. Within every cynic is a disappointed idealist and all that.

There are still original bands, but they are often lost in the sea of mediocrity and label-backed releases that follow an established pattern. Jump into the sea and try to find those lost treasures.
 
9. Would you mind telling us more about the band's current line- up and who does what? I believe Jared Moran played drums on “Revelation”, but what about “Borderline”? It's safe to say he's one of the most prolific musicians I've ever seen, and most of his bands are killer.
 
M: With the exception of Revelation, all the music of Thunraz has been written and performed by myself. I don't think this setup will ever change, but I might work with a different drummer at times. Working with a new drummer right now in fact. Very talented guy.
 
10. If I’m not mistaken, it is winter there right now – is the weather a good inspiration for songwriting and does it influence the psyche somehow?

M: It is winter, but not a particularly cold one. The coldness of the people is the greater inspiration. That and the legacies of the Soviet period which still litter the landscape.
 
11. In light of all this global instability - with the ongoing war in Europe, famines in Africa, and current situation in Israel - do you think we are heading for disaster?
 
M: I doubt I know any more than you, but things certainly don't look great. Anyone can see the massive divisions in society and what that is leading to, but few are willing to extend the olive branch. Too many are focused on the wrongs of "the other side" and unwilling to examine their own corruption. Total unity shouldn't be the goal. If an uneasy truce is all we can manage, it's still better than total chaos. How very un-metal of me.
 
12. What are 10 albums you can’t live without?
 
M: These are off the cuff and subject to change slightly, but right now, and in no particular order:
1. Bathory - Hammerheart
2. Today is the Day - Willpower
3. Immolation - Close to a World Below
4. Cattle Press - Hordes to Abolish the Divine
5. Godflesh - Pure
6. Swans - Children of God
7. Cocteau Twins - Head over heels
8. Jeff Buckley - Grace
9. Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime
10. Agents of Oblivion - Self-titled
 
13. How do you envision Thunraz in 10 years? The fact that some serious labels haven't discovered your talent yet shouldn't discourage you from creating music. If I owned a record label, I would sign your band pronto! Hails to you!
 
M: I can't even envision myself in 10 years, but I hope I'll still be creative in some way. No one should be discouraged from making music due to outside factors. I know it still happens, but honestly, speaking as a listener, I don't want to hear from you if your motives are anything other than pure self-expression. I'm glad if people make money, but if you see your band primarily as a business, it's time to pack it in.

My most infernal hailz to you, bro. Thanks for the interview!

Album review: Thunraz - Revelation (2023)

Thunraz - Revelation

Estonia

Independent

Thunraz is the musical entity by sole mastermind Madis Jalakas, and “Revelation” is the second full-length (and fourth release if you include the two EPs) released under this wholesome project. I find it interesting that this is labelled as “Industrial death metal” since to my ears, it follows a distinctly traditional approach, although by no means cookie-cutter in any shape or form; in fact, Madis Jalakas seems to show a penchant for some extremely juicy hooks and ideas, something I don't typically hear in death metal, giving off the impression of outsider influences. I suppose the hint of industrial comes from the riffs, since the guitars have a knack to be overwhelmingly chaotic and dissonant at times. The compositions are drenched in nihilism and show a great deal of depth. A range of excellent vocals - from hoarse howls to savage growls - complements the music along with an organic production, a feature I always appreciate in metal. I’m actually dumbfounded as to why this project isn’t signed to a credible label, as it rightly should be. Overall, “Revelation” is a wholly enjoyable album with a myriad of interesting ideas. Highly recommended.