The Dark Cookie takes a listen to the brand new album from the USA, do we need to beware of the Electrocutioner??

ELECTROCUTIONER, first off what a cool name!  This Thrash/Speed/Metal trio from Long Island, New York, share this cool moniker with a lesser-known Batman villain from the 80s/90s. Actually, if you want to be a pedant, three villains all of whom are totally forgettable.   Thankfully  ELECTROCUTIONER the band do not share that trait, and with this their first full length offering False Idols, they have produced a gem of an album. 

The band have existed since 2020, heck what else are ya gonna do during a pandemic than start a Thrash band?  To date have two EPs in the cannon 48 Hours ‘Till Termination and Escape From The Catacombs, and have a heads down, no nonsense sound, drawing on influences like WHIPLASH, MEGADETH and EXORCIST (Mark’s all time fave being their “Nightmare Theatre”, which I can hear in there). Oh! and chuck in a touch of early SLAYER and you have a tasty base for this Heavy Metal Thrashing stew.

This album has been a totally DIY affair, recorded in the basement and mixed by the bassist Rich, you know like how it used to be. The album is balanced between tight thrashing, speed-driven bangers and interesting snippets of musical “interludes,” a couple from Mark’s Synth, and I think that is the first time I’ve said that about a true Thrash Metal album!  But what it does is lend the album an 80’s Schlock Horror Film cinematic quality.  I have to say the they ain’t done a bad job either, the sound is balanced and everything is in its place, I can hear the Rich’ bass, which is a constant criticism for me of this genre of music we love, and the vocals are exactly my cup of tea, clean and clear with the right amount of growl. And the drums work too (and believe me there is a tale to tell there, but now is not the time!), enough to say Tyler, great job!

But what about the music? For this exercise I’m not commenting on the mysterious little interludes” (as Mark put it himself),  “Revenger”, well the title says it all.  Fast and hard with a staccato vocal delivery reminiscent of SABBAT’sMartin Walkyier, but without that gents’ little inflections, the punchy bang bang delivery.  

Title track “False Idols” is everything a title track should be but often isn’t, a highlight of the album. “The Guillotine” starts slowly before stamping hard on the loud peddle, I love the vocals, I mean how doesn’t like shouting “Off! Off with his head!” at the top of their voice! This one is going to be a killer live! “Collectors Debt” simply keeps things going break-neck, not to say it is a filler, hell not! Its as much as a beast as the rest!

The next act begins with “Throne Possessor”.  And boy! This really shows off Mark’s guitar, be it soloing in a very Metal style or smashing out bit Thrash riffs.  A short and razor-sharp tune, one of my favorites. Mark told me one of the themes of the album was the book of Revelations, another being revenge “Seven Lamps Of Fire” is straight out Revelations, and I will leave you to discover exactly what it meant, just in case I get it wrong and burn in hell!

The 3rd act includes “Asleep At The Wheel” and “Children Of The New Dawn”  the former being a cautionary tale on the perils of driving when tried and the consequences! The latter is another biblical reference or reference to the 2018 horror film Mandy, where the Children Of The New Dawn were the cult responsible for Mandy’s death!  You decide.  Either way it is a grat song.

Final act is “Execution Of The Witches” and is a super-fast Hammer Horror film set to Speed Metal.

This is a mighty fine old-school Thrash/Speed Metal album from a promising new band.  I cannot wait for album number 2, and would dearly like to see them live in the UK!  A very big bit of me this one!

Self Released on Friday October 13th.. head over to the bands