Six years may seem like an eternity to some in the metal realm – but often the balance of work/life, relationships, or lineup changes can factor into some of the gaps between recordings as a DIY artist. Add in a global pandemic that wreaked havoc between 2020-2022 and you understand why Dutch thrash/groove metal band Anger Machine just now release their sophomore album Human Error. Guitarist Thijmen Den Hartigh now does double duty as main vocalist, probably the most significant change in terms of the band’s sound.
While the previous singer had more of a modern, raspy groove metal bark to his delivery, Thijmen comes from a bit more of a Teutonic thrash meets Max Cavalera from late 80s/early 90s influence tree – knowing when to belt notes out in shouting or screaming molds for extra emotional emphasis. The lead work throughout has a melodic, fluid aspect with the right shredding explosiveness to keep engagement (and energy) at peak performance levels. Old school, heads down speed often showcases the group’s ability to elevate the accelerator – “Deadline Flatline” a crisp number that will run people ragged as the precise rhythms and stomping instrumental transition does its job in under three minutes.
Occasionally songs like “Earthquaker” and the title track reach more into expanded arrangements where the musicians can explore progressive nuances next to their massive hooks a la Lamb of God, Pantera and Machine Head. Are there occasional chinks in the armor when it comes to Thijmen’s vocals? Sure – when he tries to hit specific notes in a cleaner, melodic manner, they can feel a bit strained. But it’s not detrimental to the rest of the songwriting and performances on hand. Supplemental narrative or intro/interlude aspects flesh out the record in a bigger picture landscape – while the record hits that ideal almost 40-minute length for those vinyl collectors.
Reaching back into the early archives for an updated version of “Warpath” to finish the record, Anger Machine appears comfortable sitting in that first wave of Bay Area thrash metal meets 90s/ early 2000’s groove platform. The four-piece executes a catchy brand of aggression through their sharp songwriting instincts – branching out all the key gang background vocals and supreme lead breaks that give the people plenty to latch upon through successive playbacks. Tightly woven in a wonderful package, Human Error is on par with many of their contemporaries still releasing material these days.