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MANIC
Centuries Of Spilled Blood

Self-released (2023)
Rating: 8.5/10

For those of you who continue to feel underwhelmed by Metallica’s alleged “thrash” comeback, why not hop on board this actual thrash experience hammered out by San Diego, California-based upstarts Manic. These guys are now onto their second full-length outing and in my opinion this is where your hard earned money should be going. Thrash, in spite of numerous successes within its folds, has always been about the underground and it’s down to bands like Manic which keep the true spirit alive.

Centuries Of Splilled Blood comes armed with a hefty amount of aggressive numbers daubed in old school aesthetics from the snappy, almost crossover thrash vocal snaps to the speedy riffs. However, within this hostile landscapes there are clever melodious passages and some intelligent choruses from the off with the excellent ‘Never Ending Slaughter’.

This is some seriously good thrash metal that veers away from the generic drunken goofiness of many of today’s pretenders. Instead, this album nips at your heels in spiteful fashion while caressing the grey matter with its multitude of layers. The methodical chugging of ‘Il Coloseo’ melts into the equally measured ‘Sacrificial Ruins’, but elsewhere ‘The Conqueror’ has a punky Anthrax-like swing.

Each track offers variety in the same way a lot of Bay Area bands did in the 80s. Subtlety may be scant but it does exist and those infectious chugs are sure to get the heads banging, with ‘For Us’ being a prime example of such raging fluidity as is ‘Robotic Citizens’ which slips into zipping thrash.

It’s so good and refreshing to hear genuine thrash metal and after heavy rotation I’d go as far to say that this is one of the year’s finest albums when it comes to the crunch. Time then to start a real mosh pit, and I don’t mean one of those perfectly orchestrated wrestling Battle Royal’s put on by 16-year-old Slipknot fans.

Neil Arnold

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