Album & EP Reviews

Evildead – Toxic Grace

Evildead – Toxic Grace
Steamhammer Records
Release Date: 24/05/2024
Running Time: 40:39
Review by Richard Oliver
7/10

California thrashers Evildead are back with their fourth album “Toxic Grace” and their second album post-reformation. Evildead are a number of old school Thrash bands who released a small amount of material back in the height of the 80s Thrash movement but then disbanded when Thrash fell out of favour, yet earning cult status among the Thrash die-hards who refused to let their beloved genre fade or die. The two albums that the band released (“Annihilation Of Civilization” in 1989 and “The Underworld” in 1991) are definite old school classics and the rise of Thrash again in the 2000s brought about the resurrection of Evildead in 2016 and the long-awaited release of their third album “United States Of Anarchy” in 2000. The band even reformed with the line-up made up entirely of previous members of the band who had played either one or both of their old school output.

So now onto 2024 and the fourth album from the band.  Much like its predecessor “United States Of Anarchy”, “Toxic Grace” is a solid album of old school sounding Thrash.  It has a steady and restrained sound to it with a lot of mid-paced material alongside some where the speed is kicked into gear.  The songs where things are stepped up in pace and attitude are the most effective such as the opening double whammy of ‘F.A.F.O.’ and ‘Reverie’ plus album closer ‘Fear Porn’ though some of the more mid-paced songs have a degree of catchiness such as ‘Raising Fresh Hell’ and ‘Bathe In Blood’ though an over-reliance on these mid-paced songs does drag the momentum down a bit especially in the middle of the album though ensuring when things speed up the songs sound more effective for it.  The performances from the band are excellent with some fantastic riffs and solos from the guitar team of Juan Garcia and Albert Gonzales. The vocals from Phil Flores are a mixed bag as at times they snarl with rage and aggression, they switch at times to some very effective clean vocals and then at other times sound quite flat and monotone and do drag a few songs down.

Though I have levelled some criticisms towards the album (having got into Metal through old school thrash I am very opinionated on the matter), there is no denying that “Toxic Grace” is a very solid Thrash album. It can be a bit meat and potatoes Thrash at times but it does have some very effective moments with ‘Reverie’, ‘Subjugated Souls’ and ‘Fear Porn’ being definite highlights. Much like its predecessor, “Toxic Grace” isn’t quite as good as the band’s late 80s and early 90s output but it definitely has its moments and there is plenty here for the Thrash maniacs to enjoy.

TRACKLISTING:

01. F.A.F.O.
02. Reverie
03. Raising Fresh Hell
04. Stupid On Parade
05. Subjugated Souls
06. Bathe In Blood
07. Poetic Omen
08. World Ov Rats
09. Fear Porn

LINE-UP:

Phil Flores – Vocals
Juan Garcia – Guitars
Albert Gonzales – Guitars
Karlos Mendina – Bass
Rob Alaniz – Drums

LINKS

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