Thrash Metal
Independent Release
Release Date – September 6th 2024
Line Up:
Armin Kamal – lead Vocals/Guitar
Kirk Gidley – Guitar/Backing Vocals
Mike Forbes – Bass/Backing Vocals
Al Groulx – Drums/Backing Vocals
Tracklist:
1 – Cataclysm
2 – Temple Of Sin
3 – Nikko
4 – Demon’s Blood
5 – Pressure Syndrome
6 – The Manifest
7 – Manifest Nation
8 – Concuss
9 – Reforma
10 – My Dreams Are Real
11 – Parasite Patrol
12 – Then The Earth Goes Black
Infrared hails from the Canadian capital of Ottawa. They were formed in the mid-’80s but split in 1990 before reforming in 2014, and that lineup has been together ever since. They wear their thrash metal roots and influences on their sleeves, and there’s no mistaking those influences, but they do not parody them.
Kicking off with “Cataclysm”, a two-minute instrumental to soften you up, they then tear into “Temple Of Sin” without any warning. This is old-school thrash of the highest order, bringing Slayer, Anthrax, and Testament to mind. Just like Slayer, they don’t linger on a riff for too long before slashing you open with another, and then another. “Nikko” eases back on the throttle a bit and shows that the band can do melody, especially in the vocals, with all four members providing a voice. The latest single, “Demon’s Blood”, crushes under Mike Forbes’ grinding bass line, as singer/guitarist Armin Kamal channels equal parts Chuck Billy and Tom Araya. “Pressure Syndrome” offers up some Anthrax bounce, then we get another brief instrumental, “The Manifest”, to catch our breath before the visceral “Manifest Nation”, where drummer Alain Groulx batters the living shyte out of anything that resembles a drum! “Concuss” brings a shed load of chug, which will undoubtedly induce a shed load of headbangin’—oh, and it will get the crowd shouting the very simple chorus of “Concuss, Concuss, Concuss.” Things get a bit more technical on “Reforma” before we go hell for leather on “My Dreams Are Real.” Mike Forbes’ bass is front and center again on the intro to “Parasite Patrol”, before the guitars come from behind him and start to hack and slash at you while Kamal barks the orders. The final cut, “Then The Earth Goes Black”, has a melodic start before they crush you with a barrage of riffs, then alternate back and forth between the melodic lines.
The mention of the influential bands is just to give you an idea, because these guys have their own style and sound. It is most definitely rooted in the old-school Bay Area but with plenty of fresh ideas and some astounding songs. Heavy, fast, aggressive, but with catchy melodies and some excellent guitar work. Forty-two minutes of superb thrash.
Written by: Smudge
Ratings: 8/10
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