Hutch reviews the debut album from Dublin Thrashers Crossfire, here’s what he thinks…

Having a name that is used by about a zillion thrash bands isn’t the most helpful when hunting down information as part of your due diligence in preparing for a review. But despite the generic name, Dublin thrashers Crossfire have unleashed a reasonable debut album in Switch to Reset.  

It’s taken long enough. Formed in 2012, the quartet’s release history is paltry. But maybe good things do come to those that wait. 58 minutes is a long album, especially for a thrash band and Crossfire aren’t good at the three-minute face melt, preferring to deliver songs over six-minutes in length in a style that draws on many an old school outfit.  

Yes, it’s almost impossible to be new in the world of thrash metal, so often what we draw from the myriad of influences that erupt from the speakers is how the band have blended said influences and used them to craft something a little different from the mainstream. Something that will stop you in your tracks and pay attention. Whether Crossfire do that or not is open to debate, for opening song (and title track) is very much a thrash metal by numbers kind of song, albeit with a snarling focus and powerful delivery. Dan O’Connor’s drums are solid, whilst singer Kevin O’Connor-Conroy has the vocal delivery to match the visceral tempo.  

There is a contemporary thrash flavour throughout, echoing bands like Evile, Shrapnel and Xentrix as much as the older masters.  

It’s virtually impossible to write a thrash masterpiece these days, and Crossfire haven’t done that by any means. What they have produced is an enjoyable thrash metal album that engages huge riffs, variety in pace and delivery, all excellently performed. Lost All Control for example, is at the slower end of the band’s songwriting spectrum but is lifted by some intricate guitar work. It is possibly a little too slow, and it feels slightly overlong by the end.  

Central pillar to the album stands the eight-minute Who Goes There? With themes of war, horror, and violence amongst their subject matter, it’s not a surprise that this track focuses on the standard frontline question. It’s a powerhouse of a track, and whilst the vocals at times are almost out of control, musically it is impressive. Neat dual guitar parts, a vibrant bass and further effortless drumming all combine in the right way. It loses its way a little mid-section, but soon comes roaring back with a savagery that will ensure the pit gets moving.  

It’s evident that there has been a huge amount of effort, blood, sweat, and tears poured into Switch to Reset. There efforts have been rewarded with their signing to Wormholedeath and one can’t argue with the overall approach. Tracks like penultimate song Guns for Hire don’t mess about and focus on Crossfire’s strengths. For clarity, to me they appear best with the harder, faster style. This leads to the finale, and the 11-minute Prometheus. Ambitious? Yes, although certainly not the first time a thrash band has gone down this road but take this track on its merits and it’ll be one you should enjoy. Plenty of room to breathe and expand, it builds reasonably quickly into a Metallica style chug, and to be honest, there is more than a resemblance at the three-minute mark to The Call of Cthulhu. Crossfire can play alright, and this piece shows their instrumental mastery. There is something a little lacking overall though, despite the pleasing way it evolves. Maybe I’m being a little too critical, but it’s easy enough to anticipate the various parts, including the inevitable acoustic outro.  

Overall, plenty to enjoy within Switch to Reset. As a debut album, it’s able to stand up proudly. And with the band’s potential now on record, it’ll be interesting to see how they can build on a solid first release.  

Switch To Reset is out this Friday the 15th December, via WormholeDeath records and will be available in all the normal places!!