More rampant thrash metal from Barcelona with the latest album from Crisix, whose latest release, Full HD, is their first full length since 2019 although they did release The Pizza EP last year. They got back out on the road in late 2021 with two European tours and participated in Hellfest from Home, but the highlight was clearly the first licensed Crisix pizza available in over 20 pizzerias across Spain! Oh, and their recipe book.
Putting the stuffed crust aside and wiping the cheesy tomato sauce from the chops, there’s a new album to contend with. Full HD is 41 minutes of thrash metal which once again sees Crisix bringing their frantic blend of crossover and old school thrash together in one fiery blast. The band have had few line-up changes, with Pla Vinsiero on bass considered a relative newcomer and he’s been with the band for three years! Elsewhere, Juliàn Baz continues as the mouthpiece of the band, his combination of Steve Souza, Chuck Billy and Randy Blythe in delivery easing neatly into place alongside long-term band members Javi Carrión on drums and dual guitarists Marc Busqúe and Albert Requena. The result is one very solid album.
If I had to put a comparison on Crisix’s sound it would be a cross between Exodus and Hatebreed, with a little bit of contemporary hardcore and a huge dollop of the chaos of Municipal Waste thrown in for good measure. This is evident in the frantic opening track “The Many Licit Paths” but hidden amongst the ferocious thrashing riffage and angered roars are some almost bluesy lead breaks. It’s an opener to tear your face off and it’s followed by more intense punishment with “Extreme Fire Hazard” which races along at a maniacal pace.
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As the album progresses, it’s good to hear that they’ve made substantial progress in their song writing. The structures are neater, the playing tighter and yet they retain all the aggression and fury that you want with a thrash band who straddle three decades in terms of style and influence.
There is the humorous “Macarena Mosh” which is a gritty driving whirlwind of a song, the eruption of “Beast”, which roars up from the depths in a ball of rage and explosive thrash and a slight temporary change of tempo on the biographical “John Was Born for Metal”. At times the relentless barrage reminds you of the power of Gama Bomb, a tongue in cheek attitude and almost uncontrolled approach – this is an out-of-control streetcar careening downhill at full pelt. Throw in the frenzied “WNM United”, of course the world needs mosh, and you’ve got everything the modern thrash fan needs.
Most importantly, Full HD is exactly that. It’s a banger of an album from start to finish with a couple of surprises tucked into the final couple of tracks. I’m not going to reveal them here – that’s for you to discover. Crisix are certainly moving up in terms of quality and performance and Full HD merely solidifies their status as one of the best European thrash bands operating today.
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Header image by Arnau Montfort
Full HD is released on 15th April
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