2019 saw the first album from UK thrashers Xentrix since 1996’s Scourge. Bury the Pain was a fine slab of muscular thrash and introduced the world to the new recording line-up which comprised Jay Walsh alongside Kristian Havard, Chris Shires, and Dennis Gasser. A slew of live dates followed including a headline set at Hammerfest in 2020 before the world went dark and guitars were downed.
Two years have passed since the band were forced to mothball their momentum but with the legendary Andy Sneap back in the mix and mastering role, the Northwest quartet return with album number seven, in the shape of Seven Words. Fans of UK thrash will no doubt rejoice at the return of one of the big four, but can Xentrix still bring their style of thrash back to the front of the queue once more?
Well, the answer is yes although there’s some repetition which I guess is the way of most genres. Xentrix are unlikely to surprise in terms of songwriting. In many ways Seven Words is the natural successor to Bury the Pain but there are some surprises. From the intro which segues into “Behind the Walls of Treachery” through to the spiky, punkish version of Alice Cooper’s “Billion Dollar Babies” which brings things to a raucous close, this is an angry beast that bristles with aggression from start to finish.
“Behind the Walls of Treachery” kicks things off with a ferocious statement of intent. Move past the opener and the title track erupts with pace and power. Walsh’s snarling delivery works as well as it did on the previous album, whilst the driving engine room of Shires and Gasser is locked in tight. Spit Coin is full of bruising riffs, and more importantly for many UK thrash fans, it holds a truly British feel to it, in a similar vein to Evile’s recent output.
“Everybody Loves You When You’re Dead” isn’t a cover of The Stranglers 1981 classic but a visceral chugging track that faintly echoes the Metallica style that dominated the band’s sound in the late 1980s. It’s a different pace and brings an opportunity to move away from the relentless thrashing onslaught without leaving their trademark sound.
If you like what we do, consider joining us on Patreon for as little as £1 per month!
When the band let loose Xentrix really hit top gear on Seven Words and that happens on “Reckless with A Smile”, which features some jagged riffage and Shires’ thumping bass lines. Walsh brings every ounce of energy to the table, and whilst he’s not the most fluid vocalist in the UK thrash scene, he sticks to what he does best, and does it well. The band edge into Slayer territory on “Ghost Tape No 10” whilst the crunching riffs on “My War” will act as a pit magnet at live shows.
Whilst Bury the Pain was a real head kicker, there’s probably slightly more expansive playing on Seven Words. “My War” blends those crunchy riffs with some delightful melodic harmonics. The run in doesn’t let up for a minute though, with the aggressive “Kill and Protect” possibly the most ferocious track on the entire album. It’s a vicious, rabid beast that begins with a pounding assault and a frenetic tempo and doesn’t let up. Huge, crushing riffs pummel away, and whilst the main riff isn’t anything special, it’s brooding impact on the whole song is effective.
Xentrix leave one huge song til last in true fashion, and “Anything but the Truth” is a colossal track to end on. It begins with dual guitar harmonies, some orchestral synths, and an atmospheric build-up. Distant snare rolls give way to a slow increase in tempo followed by a fiery riff that propels the track to the finish.
It’s a challenge to find new styles within the thrash world. The format is constricted at the best of times. Xentrix have taken everything they’ve learnt and brought it together on a fiery and, at times, brutal album. It’s a fine return by one of the UK’s most loved bands.
Don’t fancy Patreon? Buy us a one-off beverage!
Seven Words is out on November 11th
Check out all the bands we review in 2022 on our Spotify and YouTube playlists!
Xentrix: official | facebook | twitter | instagram | spotify
