A new single from Skull Mason delivers a high octane and very appropriately titled metal soiree that gives off undertones of multiple subgenres from hardcore, to thrash metal, skate-punk, and plenty more all rolled up until one banger that spans about 2 minutes long but hits you like a sucker punch to the gut.
"Thrash Machine" is exactly that and throughout its course you can thrash right along with it with your fists in the air, head banging in the car, or moshing around the living room because this track has all the elements of brutal and aggressive but super fun thrash metal that you could ever ask for and more.
Not only is the guitar tone and riffs completely ferocious and continuous throughout the track but the lead guitars are just shredding the entire time and I honestly miss guitar work like this so to hear it now is not only refreshing but it was just pulled off with such a high level of musicianship that was comprised of a band that pulled this all together in a very unique way.
Skull Mason teamed up with David Secord and Aaron L Holland to make this track a reality and I have no idea what it was like to bring this from a vision all the way through to fruition, but I can tell you this, this single it's like whiplash and when it's over you just have to restart it to just catch it all again.
The drum performance on this track is insane and this mixes together a little elements of even death metal at times but really sticks to this combination of tightness in terms of the composition and how it was put together, the performances are all super tight but there's also a little bit of looseness that somehow gives this track the air of a live performance energy wise.
Even though I know it wasn't put together in a live setting, the energy of it feels like everyone was in one room and they were performing it live on the floor, feeding off of each other the entire time and this gives that vibe of a live performance.
I love those hardcore sections and breakdowns, halftime in the riffs because they all hit with a pounding electric and sonic presence that's undeniable and will turn your head from across the room.
I love the range of classic metal influences that show face during this song and it's mind-boggling to me how often that happens especially in a song that's 2 minutes long.
And that's why it's called "Thrash Machine" in general. It's not just the lead guitar shredding or the crew vocals belting out, it's about the riffs and how they change to the point where you get a series of destructive sections one right after the other with no breathing room whatsoever.
It's a complete blitzkrieg of metal in your face and this is the kind of track that real genuine metalheads will absolutely love.
I grew up listening to everything from Slayer, Metallica, Megadeth, Deicide, and of course plenty more and there are elements of all this stuff in this one song but it's really that aesthetic that they capture so well and that has a lot to do with the way the song was mixed and the tones that were used for the guitars especially.
The mix was insanely well done because it still gives this gusto and ferocious feel, but the track never loses this kind of fun character that it starts off with.
Those kick drums cut through everything perfectly and really gives the song the right kind of drive that it needs to push the envelope and deliver this ultra high-energy thrasher indeed.
This track is guaranteed to satiate all of your metal needs, all in 2 minutes.
If you don't believe me, just put it on. Turn it nice and loud because the louder it goes the better it sounds.
And while you're at it check out another track release by Skull Mason called "Finally Awake" which has Tendencies of "Thrash Machine" but comes across a little differently.
Just as hard and just as heavy though.
Check both of these tracks out for sure and remember where you heard it first.