Chris Cleo checks out the blistering new EP from Must Kill out today…..

Hard hitters of the UK thrash scene Must Kill offer up a second EP titled ‘Cause and Effect’ towards the end of June.  As a big fan of the bands previous EP ‘Ghost Malevolent’, another cut of one of the UK’s tightest thrash bands is definitely something to look forward to, especially having seen the band kill it live – and this next release must be one of the best to come out of the UK in recent years.

Those of you who are frothing at the mouth looking for any scrap of metal that goes hard as fuck have already checked out the single ‘My Scourge Sentence’, and should already know what’s being delivered.  Comparable to the title track of the last EP, the 6 minutes of violence goes through jagged Exodus-themed thrash riffs adorned with double bass runs and blast beats to a slamming breakdown section that brings the verse riff of Septicity from the last release to mind.  It’s refreshing to hear what is becoming a signature Must Kill thrashing style that’s so professionally executed, where the band have been known to be one of the most razor-sharp offerings on the track at the moment, but what I love most about this song is that it seems like an expansion of the colour pallet of the previous release.  Faint synth sounds thicken up the chorus and outro breakdowns not unlike something off Pestilence’s early releases, and the heaviness of some of these early death metal influences that makes its way into thrash is yet another reason that sets Must Kill above other thrash acts from the UK, with an extra injection of aggression but also different atmospheres.

The remaining tracks weave through a blend of other thrash riffs and breakdowns – notably an awesome shredding riff in the middle of Bete Noire that absolutely wreaks of Megadeth.  While the middle two tracks on the EP are definitely solid, my absolute favourite cut is the title track.  I am an absolute sucker for crushing mid paced death-thrash, and straight from the intro this is just executed so damn well.  The verse descends into a straight chuggy section which is just one of the many parts that showcases the punchy bass tone – everything just amounts to one massive monolith of a release.  The icing on the cake is the leads – where melodies circle in and out of each other over both crushing riffs and sustained chords – and they’re all just as razor sharp as the rest of the release.

On a final note ‘Cause and Effect’ is just another reason as to why Must Kill are one of the best thrash bands about.  Not only is this another serving of a recognizable style, but a logical extension in both heaviness and experimentation with the overall sound.  The release is wrapped up neatly in a package that’s a solid offering for any fan of the heavier side of metal with a fitting piece from Dan Goldsworthy adorning the cover – aptly matching the sleek finish of the sound.  Obviously having seen the band live only reinforces what I’ve said here, but between the polished production and the quality of the riffs Must Kill is a well-oiled machine only looking to destroy everything in their way, these tracks are definitely a must see live.

Must Kill – Cause & Effect is out Today (23rd June) in all the normal places – Find more via the Bands Website HERE