ALBUM REVIEW: Operation Misdirection – Ultra-Violence
Following on from the release of their second studio album Deflect the Blow back in 2015, Italian thrash metallers ULTRA-VIOLENCE are set to bring out their third record, Operation Misdirection. It’s the second album the band have released with Candlelight Records, and the band continue to grow in popularity worldwide, and have recently toured alongside thrash giants EXODUS.
The record begins with Cadaver Decomposition Island, and from the very first second you know straight away that this is thrash metal done by the book. The riffs are hard and fast, setting an electrifying tempo right from the off, and the drums of Francesco “Frullo” La Rosa really kick the song into action. Frontman Loris Castiglia delivers well on the vocals, the aggression really projecting well through his voice and cementing that thrash sound even more. There is a change of pace in the middle of the song as the pace is knocked down a notch, and it turns into a more ‘classic’ metal anthem, even the solos sound like a generic heavy metal hit, and towards the end it suddenly becomes an acoustic number – all of which keeps you on your toes and maintains your attention for the whole duration.
The second track, Welcome To The Freakshow, begins in a similar fashion to the first, with fast riffs providing a solid intro, though the pace isn’t quite as high. There is an air of TESTAMANT in this one, as the recipe is the same throughout much of the track and it still gets you headbanging, proving it doesn’t always have to be crazy for it to be a good thrash song.
There are only eight songs on the record, and each one has its own unique elements which really help it stand out from the others, though one track that really catches the eye more so than the rest is Money For Nothing. While there are a lot of songs by the same name, this one is a cover of that DIRE STRAITS hit; only the speed is doubled! ULTRA-VIOLENCE have been able to squeeze the whole song down to just over four minutes, including the intro, and have managed to make it work well as a thrash number.
On the whole, Operation Misdirection is a solid album. It’s the first record of a new era for the band, having changed both their drummer and bassist in between records, and the quality of the tracks is sublime. Thrash is one of the more popular sub-genres currently and there are a lot of bands dominating the scene, some for a number of years like EXODUS and TESTAMENT, and ULTRA-VIOLENCE have got potential to become one of the big players in the scene.
ULTRA-VIOLENCE have managed to nail their own distinct style and sound throughout Operation Misdirection, and anyone who loves thrash should definitely check the new record out when it becomes available – it could well be a contender for the top 20 albums to be released this year.
Rating: 8/10
Operation Misdirection is set for release on July 27th via Candlelight Records.
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