Artist:Evile
Album:Enter The Grave
Label:Earache Records
www.myspace.com/evileuk

Evile Is; Matt Drake: Rhythm Guitar & Lead Vocals, Ole Drake: Lead Guitar & Backing Vocals, Mike Alexander: Bass, Ben Carter: Drums

"The thrashers dream is now complete"............that quote right there can sum what Evile's debut album is. A surprisingly well done old school thrash album, "Enter The Grave" will bring back memories of "Hell Awaits" era Slayer, "Master of Puppets" era Metallica and "The New Order" era Testament, all without the slick commercial sheen or hollowness of bands like Trivium and Sanctity who also try to achieve this sound.

Every note of this album reeks of the mid 80's bay area thrash scene. No big commercial choruses or hardcore breakdowns can be found here, this might the most true to the roots throwback album in years. The Drake brothers trade off nasty riffs that draw influence from Skolnick, Hamett, Holt and King, while the drums crush and destroy with pounding double kick drum beats. The bass a can be heard very well here too, at times departing from the guitar riffs to add in extra meoldy with Steve Harris like high notes.


Vocally Matt Drake sounds like a cross between Tom Araya and Chuck Billy refusing to rely on heart felt meoldies or emotional crooning to make a name for himself. Although his deliverey may seem a little one dimensional at times theres no doubt it complements the music well and helps the band to further achieve the old school sound they're looking for. The lyrics at times stray away from the over preachy political commentary and bring back some of the 80's thrash spirit on songs like "Thrasher".

The band went as far as recruiting former Metallica and Morbid Angel producer Flemming Rassmussen to achieve the old school sound here and it paid off big time. This album has no problem tearing off a limb or two with its fast pace and crushing riffs. Although bands like Trivium, Dragonforce, and Sanctity are credited with doing classic metal Evile is the only band who sticks to the old school sound completely. Which may be the only drawback of this album for some people as there are no elements of modern metal at all to be found here(emo choruses,breakdowns,drop tuning,ect).

No doubt Evile are poised to become big players in the modern metal scene soon as this style of metal coming back into style. Given the success of label mates and fellow old schoolers Municipal Waste it wont be long until Evile is on these shores destroying the clubs and theaters.So check this out,because this shit is going to blow up. Possibly the best new artist of 2007. Heres to the old school!!!

Tracklisting:
1.Enter The Grave
2.Thrasher
3.1st Blood
4.Man Against Machine
5.Burned Alive
6.Killer From The Deep
7.We Who Are About to Die
8.Schizophrenia
9.Bathe In Blood
10.Armoured Assault.