EvilDead – ‘Toxic Grace’

Thrash Metal

Steamhammer/SPV

Release Date – May 24th 2024

Review BY Smudge

LA thrashers EvilDead return after their critically acclaimed album from fours ago – ‘United States Of Anarchy’. With this release they have reined in the total thrash and gone for a more controlled approach. Don’t worry they still thrash like a bastard but only when necessary.

Opener ‘F.A.F.O’ gets heavy on a simple grinding riff which kind of gives off an Overkill vibe before the overt thrash of ‘Reverie’ takes over. ‘Raising Fresh Hell’ is another heavy beast with a big kick ass riff then ‘Stupid On Parade’ rattles along with drummer Rob Alaniz knocking the stuffing out of his kit whilst guitarists Juan Garcia and Albert Gonzalez keep it simple. ‘Subjugated Souls’ is more like melodic power metal to begin as it dives into some speed metal before things come down on the shimmering opening of ‘Bathe In Fire’ which is pure melodic power metal and that continues on ‘Poetic Omen’ before the heavy instrumental chug of ‘World Ov Rats’ kills two minutes and leads us to the final cut and another thrashing beast – ‘Fear Porn’.

I found this interesting – it’s aggressive without being too aggressive and it’s fast at times without being too fast. Singer Phil Flores sings in sixth’s and only really deviates on a couple of songs so it’s down to the guitarists to make things sound different but overall, this is a quality release with some fine songs and a robust production which features some additional mixing from the legendary Bill Metoyer. EvilDead have thought outside the box on this one so give it a chance because it will grow on you.

Track List –

1 – F.A.F.O

2- Reverie

3 – Raising Fresh Hell

4 – Stupid On Parade

5 – Subjugated Souls

6 – Bathe In Fire

7 – Poetic Omen

8 – World Ov Rats

9 – Fear Porn