Foreseen - Untamed Force (2022)

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Finland's Foreseen have been around for a better part of a decade, throwing their weight around in the arena of thrash and crossover, and they have never before faltered in their approach of agitated dirge. They continue the destruction on Untamed Force upping the ante with riff after riff under a production that is right on the money here—Mirky and heavy to the point of crumbling but not brittle under its own weight.

This is what crossover sounds like when you listen to English Dogs, Crumbsuckers, Whiplash, Razor, Verbal Abuse, etc.—Drawing upon the well but never sucking it dry without throwing your own thoughts and ideas into the pot. I'm into everything about this record!

Foreseen - Untamed Force (bandcamp)

Cirith Ungol - Half Past Human (2021) [EP]

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Cirith Ungol are very much part of the old guard of metal, having been around for over four decades albeit with a few minor pauses and lapses in activity they returned in 2020 with Forever Black, planting their flag in the ground with some exemplary old-school doom laden heavy metal with tinges plucked from the crossover scenes of back then.

Just recently they released another crop of tunes under the same umbrella of doom/heavy metal and though I winced at the thought of it biting the big one but it never let me down at all, much like Forever Black… Sounds like the good old halcyon days of the genre. Half Past Human is just a fun listen through, and if you don't think so then you're probably taking things too seriously, maaaan.

Cirith Ungol - Half Past Human (bandcamp)

Primal Rite - Dirge of Escapism (2018)

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While most of my friends musical tastes have gotten tasteful in their increasing age, shifting from Merciful Fate to Julian Lynch, I have only been regressing and getting more and more troglodytic, trading in psychedelic hooks and shoegazey crescendos for skull-battering floor toms and neanderthal beatdowns. Soon, I will only listen to beatdown hardcore with zero drum fills and no more than a handful of power chords and the vocals will be a series of grunts and belches... and it will be great.

With that being said, exorcise your archaic right to listen to Primal Rite. Crossover hardcore with it all; Thrashier than thou riffs, 80's death metal solo's, disenchanted gang vocals, etc.

Dirge of Escapism (bandcamp)

Insane - Endless Execution

Fucking dude, this sounds like Gorilla Biscuits and Nuclear Assault from the good ol' 80's. They have been backed by Fenriz, which is the underground musical equivalent to winning the lottery. These dudes better take that momentum boost and bring us a fucking LP soon!

I'm going to contact the band to see if they are willing to give me a link of the demo to post up on here for you fine mongrels to enjoy. Of course they will…

Nuclear Assault - Game Over (1986)

Straight from the underbelly of Noo Yawk came Nuclear Assault with their take on crossover amidst other NY based bands doing the same thing (Cro-mags, S.O.D.) with a different flare. Game Over is rad! Makes you want to throw on your cut-off denim vest adorned in Anthrax, Venom, Mercyful Fate, and D.R.I. patches, go down to the local arcade, eat a pizza, crush some Double Dragon and pick on nerds. Ahh the good ol' days. This is a classic, listen up grasshopper.

Grab if you like: Anthrax, Cro-Mags, S.O.D.

Game Over Man, Game over.

Black Breath - Heavy Breathing (2010)

 

This is crossover done to fucking near perfection. Early death metal influence rears its head as well as that patented sound by producer and guitarist of Converge Kurt Ballou. Predominant guitar tones caked with a grimy distortion and a balls to the wall sound.

Make sure no midgets are in the room with you while you give this a spin, because I promise you, you will want to dropkick them in the dick. Every song can stand on its own two feet while windmilling you in the face. Listen for yourself.

Black Breath fuck

Cerebral Fix - Tower of Spite (1990)

Noticeably more gritty than other British thrash at the time, Cerebral Fix accomplished this through the unique gruff vocals and sinister riffs. Crusty thrash veterans will enjoy this one, but then chances are you already have it. If not, get it, and either like it or hate it. That is sort of how this blog works anyways.

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