Gareth checks out the new album from Thrash OG’s Evil Dead… here’s what he thinks…

80’s thrashers Evildead are back with their second comeback album since getting back together in 2008, 2020’s ‘United States of Anarchy’ was a solid album that consolidated the band’s sound, and whilst not quite reaching the very high standard of the first two albums; 1989’s ‘Annihilation of Civilization’ and 1991’s ‘The Underworld’, it was still a very enjoyable album with plenty of memorable riffs and melodies, so how will fourth album ‘Toxic Grace’ compare?

Originally conceived as an EP, which explains why half the tracks were produced by Dave Casey at Phase 66, and the other half by Rob Hill at X Music Studios, and yet the sound is very consistent. The crushing ‘F.A.F.O.’ (which stands for Fuck Around & Find Out), starts the proceedings, and is a really strong opener with its East Coast mosh influenced riffing, and heavy hooks. ‘Reviere’ ups the tempo and is a real throwback thrasher, although they do throttle back the pace in the later half, but again the melodies and hooks are very strong and memorable. One thing that is really noticeable on the album is the string work, both guitarists; Albert Gonzales and Juan Garcia (both original members) have really worked hard on the riffs and melodies and every song has a strong riff set and there’s plenty of very impressive guitar leads, and motifs sprinkled around. Not to be outdone, Karlos Medina adds some fluid and noteworthy basslines and a rhythmic groove to each track, while Rob Alaniz is a real powerhouse on the drums with rock solid timing and spotless fills 

It has to be said, that the elephant in the room, and it was something that was apparent on ‘United States of Anarchy’, is that Phil Flores vocals aren’t quite what they were, his voice was never the strongest in the thrash community, but his machine gun delivery has been reduced to something more pedestrian, it’s not a show stopper by any means, and his cleans are excellent, but if you’re expecting the snarl of yore, then you might be in for a shock, but he still gives his all and you soon get used to them, but be warned, they are the weakest part of the album.

What I was really surprised, and impressed by, is the sheer variety in the 9 tracks on offer, there’s fast old-fashioned bangers, slower heavier stuff, catchy almost power metal parts and with ‘Bathe in Fire’ and ‘Poetic Omens’ they mix in clean parts with huge chunky riffing to create some really outstanding tunes.

Lyrically, they still have that social/political slant of old (apart from the slightly cheesy ‘Raising Fresh Hell’) and cover subjects from gun control to social media addiction to the state of US politics and patently fast closer ‘Fear Porn’ has a real bash (pun very much intended) at the media. The cover art is also striking and probably the best they have had since the outstanding cover of the debut, although this time Dan Goldsworthy has stepped into the artist shoes, taking over from the legendary Ed Repka, although the style is very reminiscent, and they still have the same radiation sickness/mutant guy mascot (I wonder if he has a name) on the TV in the background.

Overall, this is a great old school, yet contemporary thrash album, it has a great sounding production, it’s as catchy as fuck and at only 35 min long, it leaves you wanting more, there’s barely a second wasted, there’s no filler, and so when it’s finished playing, it’s a no brainer to give it another spin, which is what I’m off to do right now. Play it loud and thrash.

EvilDead – Toxic Grace was released on the 24th May via SPV/Steamhammer Records