Thrasherwolf– Inside the Sickened Mind

Breaking out of the legendary London heavy metal scene, Thrasherwolf is the next band to watch on the UK metal scene. Classic, unfiltered 1980s style raw thrash metal. The London quartet fit right into the glory (gory) days of heavy metal.

Their second release, Inside the Sickened Mind comes 4 years after their debut, We Are Revolution. The production on their first album is a highly polished digital song set. Their new record is audibly a regression. With intention, the lads made a point their latest album has a raw, analog feel of the halcyon days of metal mania. The days when the recording industry shunned talented, technically superior musicians, these outcasts are the groups who clearly have influenced Thrasherwolf’s musical mastery. The quartet have gone out of their way to put out a song set that could easily have been released in the 1980s. Metal purity is what I’m hearing. The vocals are heavy weight grit. A vocal style a lot like Tom Araya.

The recording is spot on. A raw, realness pumps through your speakers. No fancy sound-effects, digital sleight of hand is noticeable on this song set. An homage to Brit metal legends, Iron Maiden’s iconic Eddie, Thrasherwolf have a “mascot”, Frank. He’s a deranged wolfman tearing his chains of bondage.

The opening bars of track one, “Final Act of Aggression” instantly makes me think of Slayer, “Hell Awaits” era metal fury. The video single, “G.B.H. (Gratuitous Bodily Harm)” is a nod to the legendary London punkers, charged G.B.H. There are definitely punk influences in thrash music, the speed and raw musicality bleeds through. After multiple listens, “Hanging House” is a stand-out song. Opening with a growl, smashes your speakers with blunt bass guitar force, outro is the trap door swinging open under the hanging rope.

Fans of Slayer, Obituary, Testament, Death Angel and Cathedral will want to add Inside the Sickened Mind to your metal library.

The Thrasherwolf bio cuts deep, calling out the clickbait in the media:

“Puppet masters pull the strings and guide us into conflict – aiming our rage at others, stoking the flames of our indignation and wounded pride, while stealing the last crumbs of hope from our back pocket. But, in the midst of the weeping, bleeding mannequins there’s a pack of wolves who have cut their strings. Their teeth are bared and they’re calling you to fight. The moon is rising and they’re howling out a call to arms, a call to revolution. It’s time to break your chains and join the pack, sink your teeth into the faceless gods of avarice and control!”

A self-appointed music doctor, my prescription: turn up the volume, press play on Inside the Sickened Mind, then repeat when necessary.

On a serious note, music is an antidote to all the real and perceived chaos in the world. Thrasherwolf succeeded putting together a legit metal banger. https://www.facebook.com/thrasherwolftheband/