In the event of any unfamiliarity, Holycide is a formidable Spanish thrash battalion who released their debut full-length back in 2017 on Xtreem Music—the label belonging to vocalist Dave Rotten (also of Avulsed, Bloodgut, Christ Denied, Putrevore, et al). They followed that up with their second full-length studio album, Fist to Face, which came out this past February 14th.
Annihilate… Then Ask won me over early on. It was the quintessential quasi-political Euro-Thrash metal visual aesthetic that adorned the record’s cover art that lured me in, but the band’s own music kept me there for the duration of the record. Fist to Face is capable of the same things. Visually, the artwork of Brazilian artist Alberto Quirantes is a winner that evokes those same anxious feelings the last record brought up. Musically, it’s on track to have a similar impact on fans and newcomers, alike. So, if you haven’t heard Holycide’s ferocious attack by now, today is a great time to get in on things!
As partially mentioned just above, their particular brand of thrash is categorically European in its all-around ‘sound’. Lyrically, they’re conscious and keen on world politics. [The] music might be described as something betwixt the eras of Destruction’s Eternal Devastation and Kreator’s Flag of Hate with some intermittent chromatic riffing that can become death metal-esque at times. Dave Rotten delivers the goods with a voice that’s like a less guttural Johnny Hedlund (Unleashed).
For the whole duration of Fist to Face, Holycide lets loose a violent and unyielding thrash metal offensive. Fist to Face is shaped and propelled by a pack of songs that relentlessly emphasize the band’s penchant for musical aggression and severity. Simply put, the album explodes courtesy of the volatile fiery cocktail that is the album’s title track which shortly follows an intro compiled of preposterous Donald Trumpisms. Similar assaults come straight down the line in the form of tracks like “Empty Cyber Life,” “Nuclear Fallout,” and “Innocent Hate.” In tracks like “Vultures,” “Trapped by the Crappy Trap,” “Mentality Packs,” “Napalm Sweet Napalm,” and “Fake Libertarian” you’ll also find some outstanding neck-wrecking mid-paced sections that sound tailor-made for breeding prime skank pit slamming conditions of bone-shaking proportions.
With the prominence of crushing riffs, the feel of the music can be as straight-forward or as technically proficient as they need to be in any given moment, and they can change it all up on a dime. Factor in the unbending low-end bass and furious drumming and you’ve got a skillfully established, immovable anchor for the music, from start to finish. And with the inclusion presence of Dave’s death-like vocal projections, the juxtaposition brings an advantageous contrast that is essential in realizing the band’s sonic ferocity. It’s certainly a welcome freshness to the band’s developing ‘sound’.
Putting out releases like their initial debut LP and this subsequent follow-up, Holycide deserves to be talked about in discussions that include other similar young bands like Evil Invaders, Vulture, Lost Society, Nervosa, Distillator, and others of that ilk. So far, 2020 has been a decent year as far as heavy metal is concerned. There’s a growing list of great thrash albums out already this year and Holycide’s Fist to Face is ranking high among them. While we’re talking about tried and true thrash metal all the way through, this band continues to make strides in developing its own musical identity. And with Fist to Face, they prove that 2017’s Annihilate… Then Ask wasn’t just a fluke. Holycide definitely has a stake in the game.
HOLYCIDE ONLINE: OFFICIAL / FACEBOOK / BANDCAMP
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