Onslaught - Generation Antichrist album

Onslaught - Generation Antichrist

Review by; The Dark Cookie

ONSLAUGHT in one guise or another have been around a long, long time, from 1982, to be exact, and like any bands had a break through the 90s to let the Grunge and Nu-Metal kids get it out of their system, returning in the 2000’s like so many bands from “back in the day”.

However for this latest album, their 4th since returning sees a big change in the lineup, with only Nige Rocket on Rhythm Guitar being the one constant. It’s a bit like your team changing its attack, defense and goalie all at once, leaving the midfield the same. Will they gel? Are they gonna score? Only time, or in the case of a band such as this is the music any good?

Well the answer to that is happily yes! The strike team of lead guitarist Wayne and vocalist Dave put it in the back of the net. But equally the backline do their job of providing a solid basis to move forward on.

OK enough of the sports analogies, let’s talk music. What we get here is a good old school Thrash record. No frills, just fast, angry, neck snapping, mosh pit inducing, metal, built on killer riffs, soaring solos and steam hammer pile-driving bass and drum, under a singer whom is well up to the task.

From the get go of the intro “Rise To Power” and first track proper “Strike Fast Strike Hard” you know what you are going to get, and the pace doesn’t relent. “Bow Down To The Clowns”, with its distain of politicians and perfect shout along chorus has an ANTHRAX/EXODUS vibe going on to my ears.

Title Track “Generation Antichrist” get going with a brooding riff under a contentious spoken track before launching breakneck into “rocket-powered” riffage. The vocals spat with the venom a decent thrash singer should do, before the sort of crazy soloing that will turn the speed of the pit up a notch.

Back to the theme of politics with “All Seeing Eye”. The Morse-code like guitar break is fun and there is a definite groove to this one.

And so it goes on. With a title like “Addicted To The Smell Of Death” and “Religiousuicide” you know what you are going to get, and you do in spades!

“Empires Fall” is the only slight misstep in my opinion. Interestingly it is the song with the most modern Thrash feel in the vocal delivery and structure, and whilst there is some nice twin guitar, it feels slightly out of place in this collection of songs.

Which leaves us with “A Perfect Day To Die”, 2020 version. Which is a killer track to finish on, and nicely embodies the production on the album as a whole. The sound is crystal clear and balanced, but none of the threat and menace that good thrash should have is sacrificed, good job all.

So with only one slight blot to reflect in the score this is a great slab of UK thrash.

4 out of 5.

Track listing:
1. Rise To Power

2. Strike Fast strike Hard

3. Sick Society

4. Bow down To The Clowns

5. Generation Antichrist

6. All Seeing Eye

7. Addicted To the Smell Of Death

8. Empires Fall

9. Religiousuicide

10. A Perfect Day To Die (2020 version)