REVIEW FROM SPADESMAGAZINE

If something was never in vogue in the first place, there’s little chance of it ever being unfashionable. Hence the continued survival of thrash metal in all its 80s glory as enthusiastically celebrated by Malaysia’s Atomic Death and Singapore’s Bloodstone on this split album. Reeking of nostalgia, everything about this CD transports the listener back to the golden age of thrash from its stencilled artwork depicting nuclear Armageddon to the production values.

First half of this ten track CD has Atomic Death thrashing away in a manner which will have longhairs recalling the likes of DRI and Gang Green. Theirs is a brand of thrash that is neat and tidy meaning there is none of the all-over-the-shop/unfocussed kinda of thrashing that can sometimes stain underground recordings. Atomic Death clearly spend enough hours honing their chops in some dank, dingy rehearsal space and all members are uniform in their approach. The riffs propel the tunes forward and there’s not too many wayward soloing to detract from the sheer intensity of the proceedings. Tracks such as Kombat Six Six Six and Hellbangers Nuclear Slaughter Wardrunksounds very similar to DRI’s Four of A Kind LP with only the subject matter being very much from the Nuclear Assault book of songs.

Bloodstone temper the second half of this split CD with more than a modicum of speed giving this a more European template. Imagine Sodom circa Persecution Mania era and you kinda get the picture of what’s on offer. Music that is designed for pummelling the senses and for severe headbanging at live gigs. The vocal mix on this latter half of the CD is much clearer as Bloodstone’s vocalist seems to have a better grasp of the guttural sneer vocals so beloved of 80s thrashers. But it’s a great effort from both outfits and lovers of old school trash will be hard pressed not to like this release.So dig out those drainpipe jeans, high cut sneakers & cut off denim jackets & start a mosh pit in your living room and relive the 80s all over again. (Bloodstone Records, 2010) – R. Bala

http://www.spadesmagazine.com/2011/08/08/atomic-death-bloodstone-hellish-nuclear-destruction-split-cd-album-review/