Holy moses...Onslaught, back in the day, were a very much below par thrash act who released a couple of records, all sounding different, with different vocals, to the extent that they were always basement level metal that couldn't even acquire cult status. I personally loved the demo-standard stuffiness of 'power From Hell', and 'The Force' was okay too as primal thrash goes. However, this monster, from 2007 has all the hallmarks of an undiscovered thrash classic, that reminds me heavily of Slayer's early works, particularly 'Show No Mercy' and 'Hell Awaits'. Not necessarily in the fury or even style, although there are a few Slayer-isms on offer here, but the general feel of this record brings back those days of black smoke and flying demons from the pits of Hell.
Vocally it's quite brutal, but clean, decisive, in the mix, with some furious and fast tracks, but not a blur to the extent of losing the listener in a wall of sound. 'Destroyer Of Worlds' has a slow build and turns into a scorcher whilst 'Pain' is my favourite cut, vicious in its approach. Strangely, this record reminds me of another even more obscure Brit thrash act, Hydra Vein, a band who I adored back in the '80s. Since 2007 everyone in the circle of metal has been talking about the thrash resurrection but it's great that the original boys are back in the fray and churning out, finally, quality metal to show the new kids how it's done. Respect top Onslaught and their newly found powers from Hell. Cool cover too.
7/10
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