We love a legacy return, and Atrophy are firm favourites from back in the day… we crossed our fingers and hoped this was a comeback to be enjoyed… let’s see if Gareth gives us good news or bad…

I have to be honest; I would have bet money that we wouldn’t see another Atrophy album, and that ‘Socialized Hate’ and ‘Violent by Nature’ would be their legacy, well I’m glad I didn’t put any money on it, because here 24 years after album number two, comes the third album ‘Asylum’. There’s been quite a few changes since ‘Violent by Nature’, and vocalist Brian Zimmerman is now the only original member, original guitarists Rick Skowron and Chris Lykins have long since hung up their six-strings, Lykins if I remember correctly went on to be a Doctor, while Tim Kelly is now in another band, so he’s gathered together new members; Nathan Montalvo (Lead Guitar), Mark Coglan (Rhythm Guitar), Josh Gibbs (Bass) and Jonas Shütz (Drums), so let’s see how ‘Asylum’ stacks up against the old material.

Starting off with the brutal ‘Punishment for All’ which lyrically conveys Zimmerman’s shock and horror of the developments of the January 6^th United States Capitol building (and on democracy itself) attack, riff after riff comes spitting out of the speakers with intensive fury, there’s a heavy middle section and Montalvo shows off his talents with a fantastic melodic solo, an excellent start. ‘Seed of Sorrow’ comes out all guns blazing, more fast riff work, before settling into a more mid-paced tempo, the vocals have a real throwback feel to them and while ‘Punishment for All’ was new Atrophy, ‘Seed of Sorrow’ feels a bit more old school and could have easily come from ‘Socialized Hate’. ‘Distortion’ drops the pace, and starts with real crushing power, with a slower guitar chug, before the triplets kick in and the pace picks up for the refrain. ‘Close My Eyes’ starts with some clean vocals and guitar, I thought at first Brian was duetting with an unknown female vocalist, but on further listens, I’m pretty sure it’s all his own work, the music then takes a turn into a punishing, pounding beat, with Shütz really driving the song forward. The album closes on a real high with two of its best songs ‘The Apostle’ with its biblical spoken intro is an aggressive incessant brute, while ‘5 Minutes ‘til Suicide’, the song the album gets its title from, is a mini-epic with a clean acoustic intro and a melodic lead before building up the speed, and a striking chorus, the mid-section is even faster with another outstanding solo, a great way to end a very good album.

The production, perhaps as expected, is much more modern sounding than the original albums, with a heavier sound, the guitars in particular are thicker, yet clear and chunky. The drums have a nice crisp tone, but the bass, as in a lot of Thrash, is a little bit lost in the mix, while Brian’s vocals sound bright and clear, and he sounds as good as ever. ‘Asylum’ of course does sound different to the legacy albums, but when 4 out of 5 members are new and with 24 years in-between, it was always going to be a bit different. So, is it as good as those 80/90s albums, well it’s pretty good, and is a very enjoyable thrash album, modern but with old school touches, the musicianship is absolutely top-notch and my only complaint; is it probably lacks some of the hooks and memorable choruses that the first two albums had in abundance, and the songs have a little less variety to them compared to certainly ‘Violent by Nature’, but I think if they can keep this line-up together for album number four, then this will improve, but I’ll certainly take ‘Asylum’ as it is, a great comeback album, and it’s brilliant to have them recording and touring again. Welcome back.

Out March 15th via Massacre Records