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GHETTO GHOULS
Vigilante Crusaders

Screaming Skull (2024)
Rating: 7/10

What do the 1980s movies The Exterminator, Ms .45 (Angel Of Vengeance), and Savage Streets have in common? Well, artistic versions of the main protagonists in those movies feature on the cover of this debut full-length platter from Norway thrashers Ghetto Ghouls. Vigilante Crusadors is a riotous affair epitomised by the cover art as the boozy combo drags you off to their after party and slaps you with chugging riffs, spitting vocals and crossover tendencies.

There’s a lot of furious energy, at times Slayer-esque, mixed with Suicidal Tendencies, as members Barfghoul (vocals), Ghoulster (vocals), Ghoulfinger (lead guitar), Ghouliac (rhythm guitar), Ghouldozer (bass) and Ghoulhammer (drums) serve up some seriously eye gouging metal that goes straight for the throat with ‘Blizzard Of Death’, a rampant and fiendish blaze coated in cartoonish humour. Meanwhile, ‘Toxic Crack’ steals from classic Slayer before it runs riot with those vocal mixes of the rugged and the snappy.

This time round, in spite of the humour, Ghetto Ghouls really do channel the devastating technique of the varying US thrash scenes. The Anthrax-styled ‘Savage Streets’ chugs with streetwise menace, the band seamlessly transitioning from burly metallic rolls to hurtling pace drizzled with screaming solos.

It’s easy to criticise when this sort of assault has been done countless times since the 80s, but there’s no denying that this is a genuine and fun attempt at throwback thrash. ‘Blastfighter’ is another hyper expression, although again we experience a mix of Bay Area traipsing alongside Anthrax grooves before the hammering Slayer-isms unravel. The album closes with another corker in the form of ‘Unspeakable Terror Awaits’ as the gang chants puncture the walls of riffage.

Hints of Municipal Waste are not uncommon throughout the album, while flecks of Death Angel and Exodus merge too, so you’re basically getting strong nostalgic wafts that rarely shift from its comfort zone of chug-chug, speed-speed. However, if you’re thinking of having a beach barbecue, even in the depths of winter, then Ghetto Ghouls might be the soundtrack you need to thaw the frost and sizzle the sausages.

Neil Arnold

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