Band's List Thrash Metal Toxik Society Living Kufeso

Toxik Society is a new Thrash Metal band from Spain. So far, they already have released a demo in 2008, followed by a self-released full-length aptly named “Living Thrashers”. They’ve also been featured on the Extreem Music “Spain Kills” compilation among heavyweights Avulsed and Machetazo. Not bad for a young band. “Living Kufeso” takes three tracks from the full-length and gives them a thorough lifting, having them go through remastering.

The band is your typical power-trio with Jose on drums, Camilo on Bass and Mark taking both duties of playing guitar and singing. I must say firsthand that I do like power-trios. They usually come with a powerful but yet distinct sound where each instrument gets its fair share of space. Toxik Society is no exception to the rule and the three tracks on this demo EP are crushing bomb attacks that are damn well produced. So damn well produced that most bands would be ashamed. It’s actually not your overrated production that makes most Thrash revivalists sound too modern and plastic, it’s old-school production that old behemoths like Dark Angel or Onslaught would be proud of.

Toxik Society’s Thrash Metal sounds like it’s definitely rooted in the United States scene. Even though it’s a European band, it has nothing to do with German superstars like Destruction or Kreator. You definitely get this American feel that you’d get listening to Nuclear Assault or Dark Angel.

Which by the way are the most notable influences I have noticed while listening to “Living Kufeso”. I know the band’s bio says Metallica, Sodom or Slayer (they do state Fueled By Fire though which in my opinion is closer to their actual sound) but I had the distinct impression of listening to some offspring of the mighty “Handle With Care”. It’s definitely not Thrash Metal with too much melodic parts a la Testament or Death Angel, and they don't quite lean on the Heavy Metal side like Anthrax used to do. It is Thrash Metal as in Speed Metal, it’s played fast with a fury that is quite reminiscent of Metallica’s “Kill ‘Em All”, except it’s less punk in the attitude and more furious in the riffing. Three tracks is unfortunately too little to bang your head to death and I hope this is more like a formidable teaser that will subsequently turn into a full-length massive attack.

Kudos to Mark, who’s definitely doing an excellent job at singing. The guy fully masters that high-pitched singing that genre pioneers like Overkill practiced (except the guy always got on my nerves…) adding to it the necessary evil and fury of youth. My only bad comment would be to work better on the English accent but that’s definitely not something that will ruin the experience. Just wondering, by the way, how it would sound if it were sung in Spanish? The other two guys are not bad either and they compliment the songs in their own way. It's that kind of music you want to play at 11, singing, screaming along with the singer while destroying your neck altogether. Fuck, I thought I was 16 yo all over again. I tell you: these guys are freakin' good.

My only piece of advice would be: “Guys, get this on hard copy!!” Do not bother sending digital stuff because “real” labels don’t care much about it. Send the hard stuff, so that they get a hard-on!! And labels, yes, you distro and label guys, check this band out, they’re the real stuff. Three tracks only and I reverted into fanboy mode. I can only expect to rejuvenate fully when those guys release a full album. Fuck the rest and enjoy Toxik Society.