These days we have plenty of metallic hardcore-oriented thrash piping into our ears. Probably thanks to the success of Power Trip, we have newer artists that intertwine two (or more) heavy genres to distinguish themselves in the crossover pack. The Bay Area in Oakland is home to Doomsday, previously receiving kudos for their energetic take on this style from yours truly on their 2022 Depictions of Chaos EP. A subsequent self-titled EP hit the streets in 2023 that included the band’s take on “Trapped Under Ice” from Metallica – which leads us to this debut album Never Known Peace. Pared down to a five-piece, you can expect another merge of hard-hitting tracks that seesaw between hardcore and thrash – containing a fierce vocal presence as well as proper half-time breakdowns guaranteed to cause mayhem in the pit.
You may know when the circular groove parts are coming, and yet they never fail to cause incessant foot stomps, hair windmills, or body smashing antics. Stop/ start thrash riffs may get the proceedings started on the gallop heavy “The Outlaw”, but the supplementary venomous roar from Charlie D., gang background support, and savage double kick, half-time transition sustain mandatory interest, the final sequence reminiscent of early S.O.D. Tight downpicking as well as crazy lead breaks from Ryan Calaveras and Robert ‘Big Rob’ DeLorenzi make “Killing Fields” a hard hitting effort in the vein of early Metallica or Slayer pushed through a Nuclear Assault meets Enforced template – all in under two minutes. The pace of the record contains ideal variety – a track like “Everyday War” sure to be a back half favorite, it’s mid-tempo chugging foundation racing to two-step high gear during the lead spotlight tradeoffs before returning to that crossover seamlessness that spits nails and shatters glass. Seeking out Zach Ohren (All Shall Perish, Exmortus, Machine Head) for recording, mixing, and mastering duties ensures a lively sound, the performances captured in such a way that you can feel the live energy bursting through.
Never Know Peace takes the spirit of early thrash, hardcore, and punk ethics to solid heights of appeal in the current marketplace. Doomsday could start a newer revolution from the Bay Area, so get in while you can, sweat out all your daily frustrations to come out renewed, reinvigorated, and ready to conquer the world.