ALBUM REVIEW: Hell Unleashed – Evile

British thrashers EVILE have had one hell of a ride during the course of their career. Departing members, ailments and other such obstacles have all at one stage made us wonder whether they would survive the odds. It has been the best part of a decade since the release of Skull in 2013, but the thrash metal collective can soon breathe a sigh of relief as their long anticipated return is just around the corner. Hell Unleashed is due for release on April 30th via Napalm Records and you are not going to know what has hit you.

Paralysed doesn’t trifle with notions such as overbearing introductions or suspense. It dives headfirst into a sea of skin searing riffing right out of the gate. Any concerns surrounding the unfortunate departure of long standing frontman Matt Drake are quickly dispelled as the return of his brother Ol Drake and his decision to step up to vocal duties has had a devastatingly immediate impact. His gritty, aggressive tone is the perfect companion to the swift assault. Slick leadwork and pinpoint drumming set the bar incredibly high.

Gore follows suit with another round of intensity that doesn’t let up no matter how much you beg for mercy. The serial killer inspired lyrical content helps bring an additional layer of brutality to the soundscape and a masterfully executed solo run adds the exclamation point. Incarcerated feels like a nod to their debut album with clean but ominous tones reminiscent of the likes of We Who Are About To Die and Man Against Machine. It isn’t long before the pace is ramped back up to boiling point. Whilst still going hell for leather, the track is still laced with enticing groove which demands you bang your head.

If you thought the material thus far was the heaviest EVILE have sounded to date then you are in for a stark surprise as War Of Attrition is the audible equivalent of a steamroller. The drum work is nothing short of crazy as Ben Carter transforms into a turbo charged maniac, battering anything in his path. This track is going to turn some heads for sure, and God help anyone within the blast radius if this makes its way into their future setlists. There is also zero hope for a reprieve as Disorder continues to pummel your senses with proficient tapping elements and swift shredding to leave you in a state of disarray. The Thing (1982) pays tribute to one of the bands favourite films, revisiting the chilling narrative which brought the cinematic marvel such acclaim whilst accompanying it with a furious blast of thrash metal carnage.

Zombie Apocalypse pays tribute to the death metal legends MORTICIAN, unleashing further volleys of unforgiving instrumentation. The first cover song to appear on an EVILE release and no one can fault the choice or execution. Control From Above commences with sturdy bass riffs and effective lead segments which join forces with a commanding vocal performance and punchy drum elements to ensure this release maintains a high level of energy. The final track, and interestingly the first glimpse of this release witnessed as the initial leading single, Hell Unleashed brings this effort home in impressive fashion, with relentless rage flowing through its veins.

EVILE have discarded all kinds of preconceived notions and expectations and left them at the door with this album, returning to what brought them to the dance in the first place. No frills, high impact thrash metal, and whilst some may have enjoyed their more progressive efforts in the latter stages of their catalogue there is no denying that Hell Unleashed is a huge statement of intent from a band that has been through hell themselves to get to this stage. EVILE are back and they have zero intention of letting up.

Rating: 9/10

Hell Unleashed is set for release on April 30th via Napalm Records

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