RSS Feed


POWER TRIP
Manifest Decimation

Southern Lord (2013)
Rating: 6/10

There’s nothing original about Southern Lord’s Texan combo Power Trip, and I’m quite surprised to hear such a band turning up on such a label. I mean, Southern Lord have often reminded me of some of the doomier, sludgier aspects of metal, but Power Trip are far removed from that scene.

Now, Power Trip has been around since 2008, but Manifest Decimation is the debut full-length opus from the quintet, and to cut to the chase, this is very much crossover thrash by numbers – nothing less, and certainly nothing more. Eight tracks on offer, all of which are very much in the vein of bruising hardcore and punchy, punky thrash – think Suicidal Tendencies-meets-Cromags-meets-D.R.I. et al.

Thankfully however, despite the derivative nature of it all, it’s still a crunchy and reasonably hostile affair bolstered by the aggressive vocals of Riley Gale and twin guitar attack of Blake Ibanez (leads) and Nick Stewart (rhythm). So, fans of old school crossover thrash will certainly look at this opus in two ways – one, that it’s just another modern mimic lacking ideas, or two, that it’s a complimentary nod to the old school and keeps the mosh pit sweat flying.

Personally, I’m finding this eight-tracker entertaining yet lacking thrills. For instance, the opening title cut is a half-decent chugger, while ‘Conditioned To Death’ begins like some lost Slayer track with Chris Ulsh’s ominous drum. The riffs are sharp and forceful, but the overall result leaves me feeling rather flat despite the occasional gang chants and speedier thrash moments.

‘The Hammer Of Doubt’ (the longest and probably the fastest track on the record) and ‘Murderer’s Row’ are the album’s highest points in my opinion. Both tracks offer some devilish guitar work and aggressive vocal sneers, but there’s nothing going on here that will allow Power Trip to stand out from the already overcrowded modern thrash scene.

The band are more than happy to nod to Slayer one moment and then Black Flag the next, but they do need to find something in-between that enables them to shine and so I see this frantic and belligerent record as a way of testing the waters. I’m hoping a number of fans jump onboard, but the issue here is that Power Trip, despite their loud-mouthed approach, don’t have the songs to make any real impact.

‘Heretic’s Folk’, with its speed metal openings, and ‘Drown’ are brimming with attitude and tight musicianship, but they aren’t songs we’re going to be spitting 20 years down the line like we’ve been doing with the likes of Suicidal Tendencies and D.R.I.. And that’s the major problem with so many of these newer bands – while they fully appreciate the past, they don’t have the quality to set themselves aside from the long shadows cast all those years ago by the great bands I’ve already mentioned.

Manifest Decimation is a terse little record that hits hard in an instant, but fails to leave a bruise on the brain.

Neil Arnold

<< Back to Album & EP Reviews



Related Posts via Categories
Share