ALBUM REVIEW: Positive Aggressive – Godslave
Stalwarts of the German metal scene, Saarbrucken five-piece GODSLAVE have been plugging away for over a decade now without much recognition. They’re six albums into their career and are still only really known by the most devoted thrashers. Positive Aggressive probably won’t change that. Not because it’s bad or anything, but because GODSLAVE are stubbornly committed to their chosen genre. It’s loads of fun, but unlikely to see them rise above the pack and escape the dingy clubs where beer-soaked stage-divers regularly risk knocking the drum kit over.
Their biggest selling point is how upbeat they are. Teutonic thrash tends to be darker and heavier than its American cousin, but GODSLAVE have a noticeably optimistic outlook. These are life-affirming songs, often with lyrics about mental health struggles and overcoming adversity. There’s no skateboarding zombies or soldiers dying horribly in napalm strikes, this is way more hopeful. It’s all played with a driving enthusiasm too, the type of metal that makes you want to punch the air because of how awesome life is.
Thankfully, the songs are generally decent as well. There are no real standouts as they’re all of a similar quality, but there’s no duds. They’ll all get neck muscles working and circle pits raging. The title track for instance is a meat and potatoes thrasher, reminiscent of OVERKILL with its gang chants and frenzied energy. Singer Thomas Pickard has a nicely powerful voice and when he’s bellowing out the chorus, it’s very easy to get swept up in it.
From Driven is a crowd-pleasing PANTERA homage, while Flap Of A Wing features some sweetly melodic guitar work. This one is straight out of the Gothenburg school of axe-swinging and arguably the best cut on here. The self-empowerment of Show Me Your Scars gives it a good run for its money though. It’s catchy, fast and like all the best thrash, fun. It’s also got an atmosphere that is difficult to pin down but can best be described as “German metal festival at midnight.” It’s a mead-drinking, horn raising joy.
Positive Aggressive then is a record with an incredibly appropriate title. It’s a loud and raucous party, but the central message of self-belief is honest and authentic. It’s not quite good enough for anyone outside the thrash circle to sit up and take notice, but their existing fans will lap this up. Take Jack Black, put him in a really good mood and strap a thrash metal band to him. That’s GODSLAVE.
Rating: 7/10
Positive Aggressive is set for release on July 23rd via Metalville Records.
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