Bristol based thrashers Onslaught are unbelievably celebrating their 40^th anniversary in 2022. God, I feel old…  To commemorate this important milestone, AFM records have re issued the 2011 album ‘Sounds of Violence’ as well as VI (2013) and Generation Antichrist (2020). The albums are being re issued on lovely 180g red vinyl and this anniversary edition of Sounds of Violence is a 2 CD digipak with plenty of extra tracks to sink your teeth into.

The albums still stands up as a bona fide thrash metal feast. Superb production from Jacob Hansen ensures that your speakers get a good rattling. The songs themselves are brilliantly crafted with blistering performances all round. There’s a nod to Slayer for the whole of the album, the title track in particular. Lots of double bass barrages, crunchy riffs, growling vocals and song titles like Born for War, Rest in Pieces, and Hatebox set the scene perfectly. The twin guitar work from Nige Rockett and Andy Rosser – Davies is exemplary, this is complimented by bass player Jeff Williams (who, by the way is from my neck of the woods), and drummer Steve Grice who plays an absolute blinder!

The album flows well, my only gripe is the pointless cover of Motorhead’s ‘Bomber’. Even with Motorhead guitarist Phil Campbell guesting, it sounds weak. The bonus CD boasts live tracks as well as some re-recorded tracks from their debut album ‘Power from Hell’.

A solid package of some great thrash, see you in the pit!!  

Buy Here

Author: Kenny Kendrick