I am not normally a thrash fan. Usually, I think of it as nothing more than a wild government conspiracy theory, but when a thrash album manages to get me to take off the tinfoil hat, it’s real special. Cryptic Shift and Coroner are two such bands, and it’s quite clear that both of these had a major influence on Norwegian upstarts Sovereign. Their debut album, released on the mighty Dark Descent Records, showcases a level of technicality I seek out in this style of metal, which is usually confined to more meat-headed endeavors. Kicking it off with well-utilized synth, “Altered Reality” starts as more of a mid-paced affair before going into thrash sections that will give any listener whiplash. This band are not afraid to embrace a more progressive angle, and that works in their favor, as the end result is infinitely more palatable than a typical bog standard thrash record. Most songs on here are fairly trim affairs, with choice cuts such as “Nebular Waves” and “Counter Tech” standing out as album highlights. Both of these songs are lean, mean, technical thrash gems, and bring this band’s strong Coroner influence up front by way of insanely fast fretwork and wild solos. “Counter Tech” also has some very powerful hooks that will make you want to scream “COUNTER! TECH!” along.
Even the longer tracks work. While it is exceedingly rare for a thrash song to last ten minutes and be enjoyable from start to finish, “Absence of Unity” does just that, combining blistering solos, warm synths, and appropriately hefty riffs. Musicianship, especially the vocal performance is top notch throughout, too, with bassist/vocalist Gravskjender delivering an impressive array of snarls, barks, and rasps. The end result is one of the more impressive thrash albums I’ve heard in a while, feeling like a fresh IPA as opposed to a can of stale Bud Light. That being said, it probably wouldn’t hurt to trim some of the songs down, as there are points in this record where it tends to drag a bit, especially on “The Enigma of Intelligence” and a bit on the epic “Absence of Unity”. However, I will definitely be coming back to this record throughout the year, as it is a very impressive debut. The artwork on here is fantastic as well, which certainly doesn’t hurt. Perhaps thrash isn’t quite dead in 2024.
