SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: INFRARED – FROM THE BLACK SWAMP

Infrared
From The Black Swamp
Inframental Records

Infrared delivers vintage thrash metal with styles comparable to Slayer, Testament, and early Anthrax. All good things typically come back around and this old-school sound is a refreshing change in today’s metal landscape.

“Tribal Junction” is a crushing guitar-driven track that screams with lightning-fast power chords and dive bomb leads. Closing your eyes you are transported back to 1986 heavy metal awesomeness.

For those who like to hang out south of heaven, “Lockdown” is the perfect soundtrack. The Slayer-influenced track shines as the blistering guitar riffs build intensity before the full band kicks in with a storming assault of double bass drums. The Tom Araya-style vocals and sludgy bass riffs really bring the track together. It also features some of the best guitar work on the release with incredibly tight rhythm work and solos.

“From The Black Swamp” showcases the band’s live studio chops as they bring some human experience to the instrumentation, notably the drum track. The song is organic and has many well-thought-out parts, including orchestration and classical guitar.

As things turn slow and evil, Infrared delivers the darkest track of the release titled “Evil Ascent”. The horror movie intro intentionally creeps us out with night crickets and sounds of an evil being seeking its next victim. More appropriately, it is coupled with a first-rate horror-themed lyric video.

Saving the absolute best for last, “Semita Domum” shines in all aspects, particularly in the writing department. This track can be categorized as more of an opus than a thrasher as it lends musical styles from Iron Maiden, Metallica, and Megadeth. The track begins with a classical guitar intro that sonically merges with electric guitars and orchestral strings. Reminiscent of Metallica’s “Blackened”, the heavy drums, bass and guitars fade in; bringing together tight harmonized guitar leads. The track is so well-written and engaging that the audience has a full four minutes of instrumental music before the vocals kick in. This mammoth has a running time of 6:03 and is well worth the wait.

As a Canadian band that started in the mid-80s, it is impressive that Infrared is still making a serious mark with its latest release. The impeccable studio work and enviable songwriting surely positions this band for great things to come.

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