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KILLING FIELDS
When Nuclear Nightmare Turns Real EP

Self-released (2021)
Rating: 8/10

This four-song EP is the debut offering from this Brazilian bunch of festering thrashers; a devastating punch to the face as this combo savages in such a lethal fashion.

I don’t know a great deal about Killing Fields, but the music is certainly left to do the talking as they propel themselves through this quartet of deadly tracks. There’s heaps of melody too amidst the gnashing mayhem and believe me, there’s nothing generic about the assault.

The opening title track is speedy, frothing and yet features a killer low tempo sequence of atmosphere and fantastic axe work. Vocally, Cid Oliveira has a simple yet effective aggressive style which is clear yet seething.

‘Inner Rage’ is an absolute scorcher, and brings to mind the latter years of, say, Destruction but with its own sense of melody as the percussion of T-Rash blasts great halls into the eardrums. It’s steady thrash with hints of Slayer too. It’s only natural that a band keeping things real and simple should be influenced by the classic bands of the field, but ‘Inner Rage’ as well as the other tracks on offer sound so energised and refreshed whereby every instrument has its place and holds its place – the result being a great steel formidable wall creating images of holocaustic explosions and bombed cities.

Namesake track ‘Killing Fields’ begins with the rattle of machine gun fire before a pacey dynamic takes over and the clan dive headlong into another jaw-dropping attack. The steadier segments are just as potent as the band gallops with confidence and maturity.

Finally, ‘Devil’s Grip’ continues the war-torn ethos as a barrage of drums, rumbling bass and lethal riffage come piling down like a metallic avalanche, and then we’re off for another bracing and barbaric hammering. But again there’s that melodic quality, particularly with that killer drum shuffle and kick, but Killing Fields remain heavy in their battling style of thrash.

Hats and helmets off though to drum warlord T-Rash, but now I’m left gagging for more dynamite and so I return to the frontline, fully armoured, and prepare to once again be spun into a frenzy by this very impressive thrash act.

If you like thrash metal that is well paced, dripping with melody within its feisty framework and ridden with bullet holes, then Killing Fields may well have served up one of the best EPs of the year.

Neil Arnold

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