Formed by the original ONSLAUGHT drummer, Steve Grice, and bassist Jase Stallard - who played on that British band's first two albums - INSULT take us back to the roots, to a time when metal was raw and often tinged with punk influences. But fear not: while their debut includes an occasional D-beat passage, it's nowhere near as punk-driven as ONSLAUGHT's chaotic demos. Instead, it leans more towards their first full-length, minus its proto-black metal edge. The Bristol crew deliver eight solid and diverse metal slabs, complete with atmospheric intros and outros. With simple yet effective riffing, driving rhythms and pounding drums, the album is catchy as hell. The charismatic vocalist belts out the lyrics in a gritty way, while the guitarists show off some serious chops. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the cult classic "Power from Hell" LP, they've recorded their version of the eponymous song, featuring guest vocals from Sy Keeler. These old geezers thrash harder than many of today's youngsters - bursting with energy, attitude and authenticity. The contagious enthusiasm of this early thrash style and an old-school analogue recording approach give the album a fresh yet nostalgic feel. Though they don't ape any one band, you might detect echoes of early ONSLAUGHT, early METALLICA and MELIAH RAGE, as well as MOTORHEAD, VENOM, WARFARE and TANK, and even DISCHARGE, G.B.H. or THE EXPLOITED on the punkier side. Get ready to have your head bashed in!
