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ALGEBRA
Chiroptera

Unspeakable Axe (2022)
Rating: 8/10

Swiss thrash act Algebra formed in 2008 and have released three full-length studio records previous to this alongside a live album. The cover makes the release look like a death metal album, but this is very much a ferocious and rather well-constructed heap of thrash with occasional drifts towards a deathlier tone.

Judging by the band name you would think that this would be thinking man’s metal and it sort of is, although I wouldn’t go as far to say it’s progressive but there’s plenty of layers to this opus. There’s some classic Sepultura-influence on offer here, more so with the aggressive streaks and the vocal rants of guitarist Ed Nicod, but there’s so much more to this.

At times tracks such as ‘Resuscitation’ chug with a Testament-cum-Anthrax menace, but then there’s a flash of Devastation mixed with Voivod without ever becoming too angular or thorny. A track such as ‘Constricted’ takes the band further into the depths of experimentation with flashing solos and choppy hardcore raps working in tandem with the urban riffage, while with ‘Suspect’ you get flat-out artillery whereby speed is the key and Florent Duployer’s drums are relentless, but within there’s some killer yet cold melody working its way in a streetwise fashion.

There really is a clever thrash act here; just listen to the ominous openings of ‘Burn The Bridge’ where the bass of Victor Brandt clanks, or dive into the mosh pit of the churning ‘Kleptomaniac’.

Chiroptera exudes a thrash snarl but is also more than happy to switch into muscular hardcore rants fused with crossover aesthetics, and all the while it’s an incredibly catchy composition of deft levels of creativity as showcased on the title track and the unorthodox blends of closer ‘The Great Deception’.

If you’ve not heard Algebra before then go check them out… you won’t be disappointed.

Neil Arnold

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