ALBUM REVIEW: Live In Seattle 05.28.18 – Power Trip
Ask anyone what bands are spear-heading the charge for heavy metal in the modern era and you’ll find that POWER TRIP will often be the reply. The Texan thrashers’ have taken the metal world by absolute storm since announcing themselves with 2013’s Manifest Decimation. If that debut showed flashes of promise, 2017’s Nightmare Logic established POWER TRIP as a genuine game-changer. Their raw and visceral crossover thrash displayed on that record won plaudits across the board and boasting a fierce live reputation, POWER TRIP are one of metal’s youngest and hungriest talents. Now, in a time where live music is non-existent thanks to COVID-19, comes Live In Seattle 05.28.18, a new live recording intending to comfort those who crave the buzz of a heavy metal live show.
Seeing POWER TRIP live is a breathtaking experience. Whether it’s on a massive festival main stage like Download Festival or in the most intimate setting of a club, the Texan’s adoration for buzz-saw riffing and high-octane action is an exhilarating experience. Live In Seattle showcases this in abundance as the 43 minute set oozes energy and showcases the band doing what they do best.
From the stomping intro of Drown all the way through to emphatic finale Crossbreaker, POWER TRIP keep the energy flowing in top gear. Divine Apprehension boasts those trademark boisterous riffs whilst frontman Riley Gale‘s growls cut through the mix remarkably well and his demands for movement from, what we can imagine is a ravenous crowd, shows an inkling into his qualities as a frontman. It’s a breathtaking opening barrage and we can just picture the bedlam.
From there, POWER TRIP continue to impress, showcasing their expertise on the live stage. Suffer No Fool is a nice throwback to their 2011 self-titled EP, long before they broke through to the mainstream, and the punchy riffs are so satisfying to hear across it’s two and a half minute runtime, Crucifixation keeps the momentum hurling forward and showcases just how strong the material from Nightmare Logic is and when Gale demands the crowd to “BANG YOUR HEADS!” before a crunching riff kicks in is just so wicked.
And yet, the highlight of the performance comes from the utterly explosive one-two punch of Soul Sacrifice and Executioner’s Tax (Swing of the Axe). Taken from 2017’s stellar Nightmare Logic, here, POWER TRIP make these songs even more visceral and explosive in the live setting. Soul Sacrifice whips up an absolute storm as Riley introduces the number over the gut-punching riffs before the band unleash hell and Executioner’s Tax (Swing of the Axe) is, once again, phenomenal. You just can’t help feeling goosebumps as the now iconic riffs kick in, further enforcing that the song is quite possibly one of the finest metal songs we’ve heard for decades.
Whilst Live In Seattle 05.28.18 will never replace seeing POWER TRIP live in flesh, this live album comes at a time when people are craving live music desperately. COVID-19 may have temporarily paused the show, but Live In Seattle is a lovely surprise offering to fill the void from one of metal’s brightest new sparks.
Rating: 8/10
Live In Seattle 05.28.18 is out now via Dark Operative.
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