Liste des groupes Death Thrash Nofuck Existenzminimum

Usually when you write the words “Thrash Metal” in a sentence, you’re bound to think Big Four, USA or Germany. So it always comes as a surprise when Thrash Metal bands come from some places where you'd think most people are into Black Metal or what else. NoFuck is a rather young Italian band that released their debut Existenzminimum two years ago.

By taking a quick look at the bio and the many reviews they got from this record, I do believe they want to make this work and eventually keep on thrashing till they get signed by a record label. Nothing wrong with this. We all know that "sub-genre" music has quite a strong appeal on a few people even though unless you’re Metallica or Slayer you quite well know that you’re not going to get rich playing Thrash Metal.

Their approach is honest and so is their music. I did enjoy most of the records. Sure it's a debut, and as such, it has its pluses and minuses. The overall feeling being rather a positive one according to me, I'd rather list the few things that almost annoyed me and end up with what really pleased me.

The production on this record is a bit too clean for me. I am used to Thrash Metal classics like early Slayer or Dark Angel, and the sound found on Existenzminimum belongs more to the likes of Testament or Death Angel, which I have always found to be too "polished" for me. Thrash Metal is about playing your music with the rage in your guts, not coming up with a Metal version of your favorite "pop" ballad like a few bands, including the two aforementioned bands, did to try and get a wider audience.

Considering this album was recorded in 2008 and not back in 1984-86, obviously it does sound modern. It’s not something that was recorded in some basement with pro-tools but you can tell there’s real “production” in here. Again, if you’re somewhat allergic to “modern” sound and would expect something “Venom” style, please reconsider ever buying this record.

The good thing in this record is really much the songwriting. Every damn song has catchy riffing and its fair share of “brutality”. That’s even enhanced with vocals very much close to those found on Sepultura’s Beneath The Remains, and sometimes you could even think the singer turned into a Death Metal growler.

Musically, we’re in something that sometimes take a few bites off of Sacred Reich’s Surf Nicaragua mixed with the introspectiveness of Acid Reign's Obnoxious. Actually as if the record was some unofficial offspring in Acid Reign's discography, some unreleased record between Moshkinstein/The Fear and Obnoxious. Not quite yet the "intelligent" thrashing of the most controversial "pink" album but a bit further the moshing appetite of the Anthrax-clone that the Brits certainly were earlier on.

Add to this a few breaks that have an undeniable Pantera flavor to them, and you could almost picture NoFuck's peculiar sound with exquisite precision. This is, without any doubt, a very sound release that I believe most people will come to appreciate though it's more of an acquired taste. Obviously, if you like your Thrash Metal plagued with Black Metal hints (the hippest trend around lately), you really would find this quite not to your taste. I, for myself, think of it as a good continuation of the Thrash Metal adventure that, unlike many other bands, does not necessarily copy the former masters but takes on the less traveled road of innovation without ever losing sight of their ultimate goal. And that is: playing some pretty darn good Thrash Metal.