I have rarely been disappointed by the young Italian label Punishment 18. Their bands aren't big, but they usually have balls. This album, however, is in my humble opinion not exactly the cream of the crop.
It's hard for me to put a finger on exactly what it is, but it's as if this Italian quartet has a hard time capturing the spirit of old school thrash, even if they so desperately want it.
Talent? Sure it's there. The singer's voice? A matter of taste - it's not my favourite style, but there you go. Songs are decently enough wrought, but don't earn the globe awards for innovation. It's just that final spice of authenticity that's missing, I suppose. It doesn't take me back the way a band like, say, Angelus Apatrida, can do it.
Nice enough, but not at all where I have a feeling these guys could be - if they released their more proggy side entirely and used that talent rather than trying to be Bay Area!
