Algebra – Chiroptera
Algebra – Chiroptera
Unspeakable Axe Records
Release Date: 19/09/2022
Running Time: 42:42
Review by Victor Augusto
8/10
Sometimes I catch myself thinking if I really know about music or if I’ve done right when I decided to start on this beautiful journey of music reviews. The reason for these strange thoughts is because I have Thrash Metal as my favourite musical style, not only to review, but also for listening at home or during my long runs on streets. I guess the music structure and the guitar sound offers a good adrenaline, but considering how much I love this style, I still feel that I don’t know it deeply.
When I got Swiss band Algebra to review, my first impression was that they offered amazing material and at the same time I thought how I could describe them, but not only using the basic adjectives like “They are heavy, brutal fast and pure Thrash”. If you already know them (sadly I’d never heard of them before this review) you are probably tired of hearing these words, considering you all know they are good. So let me try to give my overall view of their new material.
I felt that they tried to keep their roots in the European way of playing Thrash, like their compatriots of Coroner do. It means a sound that flees from that Bay Area formula even though they have different elements depending on which country the band is from in Europe. A small example of that is how British Thrash tends to bring few classical elements for their music and maybe bands from other countries bring things from that scenario. Well, it is an impression I have, considering my lack of knowledge about it and I am not sure if Algebra tried to do the same.
Despite all the gibberish I said, Algebra tries to navigate over everything I mentioned. Ok, I said they are more to the Swiss elements that I know from Coroner, but you still have that pure classic Thrash as the first song ‘Resuscitation’ (after the intro ‘The Fallen’). Another example is the beautiful wall of guitars allied with a fast double bass, like in ‘Kleptomaniac’, that reminded me of the musical structure of Exodus, for example. A killer track, by the way. Probably the one that I most enjoyed.
Another interesting detail is how fearless they are to explore things that even the most loyal fan could complain about. It starts smooth and early on the album, right on ‘Constricted’ with a few clean voices which is an escape from the heavy sound so far. This freedom to not be chained only to brutality. ‘Eternal Sleep’ also shows a more ‘laid-back’ approach that even gives a small sensation of a good Punk Rock or Hardcore moment, diluted among all the heaviness.
Overall, I loved the addition of all elements of a good Thrash band, no matter from which part of the world these influences came from. All the sonority apart from their main style just came to make it even more creative. “Chiroptera” is a mature album from a band that have been releasing materials in a good frequency throughout the last decade. Probably their experience of being on road helps to increase the amazing results.
‘Kleptomaniac’ Official Audio
TRACKLISTING:
01. The Fallen
02. Resuscitation
03. Kleptomaniac
04. Constricted
05. Accomplice
06. Chiroptera
07. Suspect
08. Eternal Sleep
09. Losing Touch
10. Burn the Bridge
11. The Great Deception
LINE-UP:
Ed Nicod – Vocals and Guitars
Nick Abery – Guitars
Victor Brandt – Bass
Florent Duployer – Drums
LINKS:
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