Warbringer
Waking Into Nightmares

The Warbringer are a fairly famous band in the metal world, particularly in the realm of the new thrash wave. Their offering is a very powerful and complex thrash, which, while taking evident cues from the great Eighties formations, employs a personal sound that makes them unique (and not to be confused with other "New Thrash" bands). Their influences are still evident upon listening (Slayer, Sepultura, and Demolition Hammer above all!).              

This new and second full-length is a massive and compact frontal attack that does not disdain a more than decent technique and an uncommon inventiveness; the album maintains a very high quality throughout its duration and is a real pleasure to listen to from start to finish in one go. The quality of the riffs is apparent and even the songwriting is never predictable, the rhythmic base is solid especially due to the presence of a really excellent drummer who manages to blend purely thrash drumming with more modern excursions without ever falling into clichés. 

Speaking of production, it can be said that an excellent result has been achieved, with a powerful and clear sound that is never too modern or pompous, thanks to the great work done by Century Media. Kevill's vocals are aggressive yet always versatile and remind a lot of Tom Araya for the timbre and Sodom’s Angeripper for the type of technique used. Going back to the riffage, it can be said that it is always varied yet consistent: varied, because it never falls into unnecessary repetition, and consistent, because the level, both technical and compositional, is always high.

The standout songs are hard to identify as the album is consistently impeccable, but the single "Severed Reality", the opener "Jackal", and "Sorched Earth" perhaps prove to be the biggest pearls in a truly rich treasure chest. In particular, "Jackal" boasts considerable speed, phenomenal riffs, and a simply crazy refrain, while the first single extracted (with a video available for free viewing on Youtube.com) boasts an excellent guitar base and equally exceptional drumming (if not even better), the song is truly enjoyable: super-dynamic and of a power worthy of Slayer and beyond, a thrash blast that will greatly astound the most uncompromising metal enthusiasts from more than twenty years ago. 

Objectively speaking, it is one of the (thrash) metal albums of recent times that boasts a technique and compositional level of this caliber. The group's maturity is clear, and given the number and quality of concerts, they are a strong and appreciated band, also very well regarded by critics for the already abundantly clarified reasons.

An album recommended to both lovers and non-lovers of the genre, an album recommended to those who, like me, want to rediscover the pleasure of listening to thrash with power comparable to the thrash of the late '80s                                                                                                                                        

It's been since my last year of high school (1991) that I haven't come across albums of such magnitude. Could it be nostalgia for the Demolition Hammer?