Despair - Decay Of Humanity (1991)

Old school...or easily just as new school, German thrash, when you consider how talented these guys were. Nothing better than complex, dry, caustic thrash, and Despair were the epitome of that style of with those intricate drums, aggressive vocal sneers and no thrills frenetics. Euro thrash always had a colder edge than the US relatives, combining mid-tempo mechanics and unexpected changes, difficult to headbang to indeed, but instead bands of this ilk were masters of their trade. The opening title cut a complex web chord shits, trigger drums and bubbling bass, melting into the immense 'Cry For Liberty'. This is the sort of stuff we need back battering the eardums, not countless buffoons attempting to recreate that moshing chug. Some fine vocal arrangements here, whether as a death grunt, thrashy rasp or echoing soar, the record always maintains an air of the unexpected. The reality is, after hearing tracks such as 'Radiated', that European thrash was always the king, always remained a cult, and boy could those guys play. Deadly serious mechanics and metal for the intelligent.

8/10