This quartet from France have released their second full length a full six years after their first. This is black thrash, but very heavy on the thrash, being quite technical and skillful. The music is a hybrid of the Bay Area and German thrash sounds, leaning more toward the German side, with driving riffs on the one hand and speed and technicality on the other. The vocals are a rabid growl that would be at home on any good black metal record and the singer is is both powerful and authentic. He's somewhat rhythmic in his vocal patterns, reminding me a lot of early Kreator and slightly of early Sodom. The cover of the record is interesting, geared more toward science fiction than anything, and that's quite different for black thrash. I'd be willing to bet these bastards kill in a live setting, and I know my neck would hurt the next day. This comes highly recommended - this is not "pizza and party" thrash, this is the real deal.
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Mortal Scepter--Ethereal Dominance (CD/LP/CS) {Xtreem Music}
This quartet from France have released their second full length a full six years after their first. This is black thrash, but very heavy on the thrash, being quite technical and skillful. The music is a hybrid of the Bay Area and German thrash sounds, leaning more toward the German side, with driving riffs on the one hand and speed and technicality on the other. The vocals are a rabid growl that would be at home on any good black metal record and the singer is is both powerful and authentic. He's somewhat rhythmic in his vocal patterns, reminding me a lot of early Kreator and slightly of early Sodom. The cover of the record is interesting, geared more toward science fiction than anything, and that's quite different for black thrash. I'd be willing to bet these bastards kill in a live setting, and I know my neck would hurt the next day. This comes highly recommended - this is not "pizza and party" thrash, this is the real deal.

