Once again the new thrash craze lures me in, Hatchet's record dressed in a mighty fine '80s style sleeve without making me cringe. As I've said many time, it's okay bringing thrash back, but is there really any point when we know that every band is a poor imitation of what's gone before ? Sure, some of these new thrash acts are giving it their best shot and making many a nod to the likes of Death Angel, Anthrax, Slayer, and 'm sure they believe in what they do, but if it's not good enough to break into that framework and standard set by those mentioned, then this latest trend will simply fade away. Hatchet aren't that original, but I do like this album. It reminds me heavily of very early Metallica, Megadeth etc, quite speedy, with that Bay Area crunch, particularly 'Frailty Of The Flesh'. There's touches of maiden and Helloween too, as well as the expected Heathen, Testament, Exodus.
I've trawled through so much of this recent stuff that it makes you realise just how truly great, and I mean GREAT...the old school stuff is. However, if we are going to have a thrash revival, however talented some of these bands are, I don't think the album's should be completely influenced/borrowing, from the '80s scene. The chugs are identical, the acoustic sections are predictable, but of all the recent thrash brigade, Hatchet are one of the better bunch. However, it's no good putting Death Angel's 'Act III' on afterwards because then you'll find yourself mocking Hatchet as just a bunch of amateurs in comparison to what went before, and seemingly so many years ago. Long live thrash.
6.5/10
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