INVECTION

At 21 minutes, INVECTION's "Demented Perception" is just the right amount of old school thrash metal to not only keep one's attention for the entire duration, but it is also well suited to those that need a quick fix of no-frills head banging action that'll leave you just short of needing a neck brace. The question then becomes whether the quartet of Andrew Kubiak (vocals/lead guitar),Drew Gage (lead guitar),Andy Lindquist (bass guitar),and John Haag (drums) can keep it up for the 35 or 40 minutes of full-length album. Hazarding a guess isn't necessary, as our concern at the moment is the electrical current strength of "Demented Perception".

On the whole, "Demented Perception" convinces with its genuinely classic thrash approach, one that features a live/loose, yet tightly performed, feel, a natural sound, and a bevy of strong riffs, all wrapped up in a calamitous delivery. Among the new wave of thrash metal purists, the INVECTION style is similar in some ways to the hair raising, raw and in your face method of malevolence championed by MERCILESS DEATH, just not as unabashedly evil. In general terms, one might even say the INVECTION sound shares some degree of commonality with the likes of NUCLEAR ASSAULT, by way of D.R.I., with nods to early METALLICA and riff-wise to a limited degree, KREATOR, but I'm probably reaching just a tad here.

Be that as it may, the riff arsenal is pretty good, ranging from the righteous groove-riff that introduces the otherwise assaulting "Two Faced Lie" (think "Am I Evil", the METALLICA version) to the sharply constructed "Controlled Insanity", which meshes multiple cadences and riffs into a cohesive whole. Kubiak's speak-sing vocal style reminds of SLAYER as well, while the use of backing shouts provides a welcome injection of raucousness. With lyric like these from "Invection" ("Meaningless words, hit like shotgun shells / fuck off and die, I'll see you in Hell") the topics explored err on the side of mistrust and outright contempt for the sub-human race. The guitar solos slice, dice, and slash most efficaciously too. Toss in the Dan Seagrave artwork and you've got yourself a satisfying bout or recklessness. The real proof will be in the full-length pudding.