I was watching a thrash documentary a while back (I don't remember the name, and a quick search was unhelpful), and I got a bit nostalgic. Thrash isn't my favorite metal sound, but I did like the more technical outings (I'm more of a Seasons in the Abyss than Reign in Blood guy, if that helps). AMKEN hails from Greece, and its riffage is pristine. The thrashy moments are effective, and the vocals are sung and growled.

AMKEN Passive Aggression (Massacre Records)

And yes, this is a serious throwback to 80s Bay thrash. Slayer and Exodus are obvious influences (in different moments), and that combined with the band's technical prowess gives this album serious power.

It's loud, which sounds like a "duh" moment, but the production sound here shaves just enough off the edges to give the proceedings more punch. The lead guitar often pierces the wall of sound, which is a cool effect as well. Another way to put it is that this is a more modern, kinda black metal approach to producing a thrash album. It works.

AMKEN is totally flogging a dead horse. And yet I'm blown away nonetheless. There are enough modern and creative directions within the thrash sound to entice my ears. And the power is undeniable. As another review mentioned, there is a lot of faceless thrash going around (an age-old tale, I'm afraid). AMKEN is head and shoulders above the offal. Time to rush the stage and get bloody.

Jon Worley