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MADROST
Into The Aquatic Sector

Self-released (2014)
Rating: 8/10

Madrost (pronounced “mud-rost”) hail from Lake Forest, California and formed in 2007, although their debut full-length album Maleficent wasn’t issued until 2012. The band’s line-up for this sophomore opus consists of Tanner Poppitt (vocals / guitar), Alejandro Pelaez (guitar), Richard Orellana (bass) and Cesar Escobar (drums).

Now, when I first read the title of this album I must admit that I assumed that musically Madrost could well be some bewildering technical death metal effort – the cover art and some of the track titles reminding me of the sort of early 90s death metal spewed out by such gifted bands as Nocturnus etc. However, I was way off the mark.

Into The Aquatic Sector boasts eight tracks which are in that thrashing metal mould with just a hint of deathly summoning. With a foundation of pacey riffage and rasping vocals, Madrost have more in common with mid-to-late 80s thrash with death metal influences… and I really dig it!

Aggressive throughout, this is a compelling extreme metal release that should fit in nicely alongside the many retro-thrash acts doing the rounds. But this opus has a tad more bite than most, specifically in the vocal screeches of Tanner Poppitt. From opening ‘The Unknown’ right through to closer ‘Depravity’ we’re treated to precise, energetic thrash metal with progressive edges and catchy hooks. While it may not be as gnarly or cosmic as Vektor, Madrost sport that similar hunger for catchy, yet angular destructive metal which also fuses a variety of influences ranging from Death and Kreator, to the San Francisco Bay Area sound, and acts such as Helstar. It’s rarely predictable – which is a rare thing in today’s climate when it comes to revival thrash – and instead of the usual Slayer dynamics we have a sharper attack built upon a sturdy rhythm section of the twin guitar attack and more so Escobar’s volatile drum techniques.

The likes of ‘Operation: Xenomorphic Protocol’ harbour a contemporary metal edge where the instrumentation is polished yet contrasted by Poppitt’s lethal vocal rasp which at times, and yet not enough for my liking, reaches a pitch, glass-shattering scale. ‘Operation: Xenomorphic Protocol’ is most definitely Madrost at its slowest, but it’s still a lethal concoction of classic thrash and glistening complexity. However, for all-round old school values look no further than the abrasive clatter of ‘Subterranean Nightmare’ with its relentless opening barrage, while the title track also revels in that vigorous assault of percussion and riffage.

Madrost is serious about its thrash metal, and while there are bands of this ilk cluttering up the current scene it bodes well, because too much modern thrash is resorting to mimicry and buffoonery. This is good stuff.

Neil Arnold

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