IN MALICE'S WAKE “Light Upon The Wicked” /CD/

First official release of the debut full-length album by Australian Thrash Metal band.
It's been a long three years since Melbourne based Thrash act released their promising debut E.P. effort "Blackened Skies", but after some unforseen delays and frustrating setbacks (the trials and tribulations of the band's recording sessions are well documented in the booklet's liner notes), In Malice's Wake have finally returned with their highly anticipated full-length debut "Eternal Nightfall".
The album starts with an “Intro” and smoothly sails into the second song “Pay the Price” with the same tune and riffage creating the required anticipatory juices in the listener’s minds! The music is simple Technical Thrash Metal with cheesy solos here and there backed by excellent screaming vocals by Shaun Farrugia. The title track “Eternal Nightfall” is your quintessential Thrash anthem just pounding in your face, with those slight Punkish drum work. “Bitter Demise” continuous in similar sharp riffs, slightly groovy, but enough variety to keep you interested. With “To Run with the Darkness…” the sound seems to get chaotic during the vocals part, but with sharp riffs the music sounds as sweet as mere words can’t describe. The solos are really screaming out to get your attention, largely thanks to the guitarists’ innovativeness and it simply works right away, as most importantly they are not overdone. “Man-Made Death” brings in some signature riffs only In Malice's Wake could have brought in and packs so much just under 4 minutes, makes the listener’s time really worth it. “Weakness in Numbers” combines a bit old school Traditional Heavy Metal with raw Thrash Metal that so many bands have tried and failed, but these boys get it right. Just when you think that the album is unidirectional in its high tempo aggressive Thrash, “Where Silence Hides (Instrumental)” pops in with its mid-tempo, rather slow instrumental. The original album ended with an excellent epic Thrash anthem in “Mental Disarray”.
Official re-release features "Blackened Skies" EP 2005 as a bonus, which is actually pretty cool, as we get to listen to 2 records in 1 pack!! This section of the record, i.e. the EP part seems to have more chaotic song structure compared to the original album part, but still packs enough meet to keep the fire going. “To Run with the Darkness” is another brutal Thrash anthem, as the band still manages have enough variety and flavor to get your attention. “As Dusk Covers Day” and “Weakness in Numbers” sound more like Part 1 and Part 2 of the same song as they have similar riffs with extensive song writing, but all good in books at the end of the day.
All in all, this re-release is a must pick up for new In Malice's Wake fans as it will expose them to one of the best modern Thrash Metal acts that Australia has put in recent years. This is simply Thrash beauty at its beast!!
Punishment 18 Records, 2008/2015 (P18R 098). Made in Italy.


Tracklist:
1. Intro 0:25
2. Pay The Price 5:19 
3. Eternal Nightfall 3:48 
4. Bitter Demise 3:24 
5. To Run With The Darkness... 4:12 
6. Man-Made Death 4:00 
7. The Path Less Travelled 4:44 
8. As Dusk Covers Day... 5:49 
9. Weakness In Numbers 4:34 
10. Where Silence Hides 4:53
11. Mental Disarray 4:27
Blackened Skies:
12. To Run With The Darkness 4:44 
13. Blackened Skies 4:50 
14. As Dusk Covers Day... 5:35 
15. Weakness In Numbers 4:35
Total playing time: 65:20

First official release of the second full-length album by Australian Thrash Metal band.
The best thrash metal album of the modern era!
To call "The Thrashening" “Modern” is misleading. Its sound is firmly founded in the old school style of the classic Bay Area acts. While In Malice’s Wake’s sound undeniably fresh and vital, their thundering drums and pummeling riffage primarily bring to mind the work Testament and early Metallica; with Shaun Farrugia’s deep, layered bark bearing particular resemblance to that of Chuck Billy. However, they also make plenty of room for the heightened aggression of Slayer, the furious speed of Exodus, and Megadeth’s politically-minded lyrics.
Highlights of "The Thrashening" include the explosive album opener “Endless Possession;” the sing-along chorus of “Fuel for the Fire;” and the sublime “No Escape,” with its crunchy mid-section that brings to mind the down-tempo stomp of "Cowboys From Hell"-era Pantera. Although, there really isn’t a dull moment on the album, as each track is an absolute masterclass in Thrash Metal perfection. In Malice’s Wake cover all bases on The Thrashening and they pull off every single element flawlessly.
The true standout of "The Thrashening", though, is the production. The Ever-reliable Systematic Productions (A.K.A. Ermin Hamidovic) truly outdid themselves with this one. Even amongst their flawless catalog, "The Thrashening" stands out, with a perfectly balanced mix that sees every instrument coming through with the perfect balance of genuine emotion and crystal clarity.
"The Thrashening" is an album that is definitely going to please anyone that loves bay-area Thrash Metal and Metal in general. It is perfectly timed at a shade over 30-mins, meaning its 8 tracks are just long enough to keep the listener engaged for the whole time while not being long enough to cause you to skip tracks. A definite contender for album-of-the-year and highly recommended for anyone that likes their Metal fast and full of more hooks!!
Punishment 18 Records, 2011/2015 (P18R 095). Made in Italy.


Tracklist:
1. Endless Possession 3:28 
2. Evil By Design 3:14 
3. Onslaught 4:23 
4. Fuel For The Fire 3:38 
5. The Crawling Chaos 5:20 
6. Join Us And Fight 3:20 
7. No Escape 4:15 
8. Nuclear Shadow 4:25
Total playing time: 32:03