Raider – Trial by Chaos (Self-Released)

Friday, 7th April 2023
Rating: 8.5 / 10

Impressive right away with 2020’s Guardian of the Fire full-length, Canada’s Raider returns for the second album Trial by Chaos. Continuing on a self-released platform, even the slight membership shuffling has not affected the exhilarating sonic output that this thrash/death unit display in these eight songs. The combination of aggressive, musically sharp riffs, savage vocals, impressive energetic tempo diversity, and the melodic/harmony twists sprinkled about ensure that the listener has plenty to savor, process, plus dig into through intense listening sessions.

The contrasts between specific instrumentation allows for windmill, groove-oriented segments during certain tracks to maximize appeal. As the arpeggio-laden neoclassical runs prove the shred cred of guitarists Gabriel Rosa and Bennett Smith (the latter also in Cathartic Demise), their rhythms during “Rite of Conquest” create this churning sledgehammer against frantic double kick/snare activities, slaying much like Exmortus next to early Teutonic thrash purveyors such as Sodom or Kreator. At other times the intense, ferocious gallops as well as tight, crazy transitions bring to mind the late 80’s/early 90’s power/semi-progressive thrash angle, as “Fearless” optimizes killer musicianship against a solid, mid-tempo switch sure to create walls of pit obliteration. Where Raider are able to keep one foot on the pedal in terms of the musical activities, the extreme edges employed by vocalist Angelo Bonaccorso ensure that the underground hordes will most appreciate the lacerating cuts fueled by death/thrash heroes through his work on “Labyrinth” and the longest cut at 6:04 “Juggernaut Cerebrivore”. Australian artist Mitchell Nolte provides a tantalizing cover, chock full of details those into picking out those aspects treasure (hopefully a vinyl version comes out).

Trial by Chaos keeps Raider moving along in a brisk fashion with their fluid style of semi-intricate thrash/death – injecting the key hook or melody/harmony aspects when called for, yet never sacrificing the heaviness, aggression or brutal nature to these songs. Splendid entertainment for those who love more sophistication while headbanging or getting their frustrations out in a healthy manner.

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