Astute collectors of thrash – especially of the 80s/early 90s variety – may remember this UK band from their Peaceville Records debut album Bastard Ballads in 1988 which gained them a major label deal to Chrysalis for the second platter God’s Gift from 1990. Now resurrecting themselves under the Toranaga U.K. banner, only vocalist Mark Duffy remains from those early days – but the current quintet deserves some kudos for keeping the eyes on the thrash prize with this latest EP A New Order. This bridge type of release equally engages the past with the present, as you’ll get two new tracks as well as two re-recordings of previous cuts, an ideal way to get back in the scene for a group that is now reborn 35 years from that last album.
When looking at the newer songs, it’s evident that these gentlemen possess all the requisite tools in the gallop-fueled riffs, steady tempo control with the ideal shifts, snarling vocal melodies, and instrument dexterity to keep themselves sharp in the thrash pantheon as if it’s back to the days of early Xentrix, Overkill, and Pleasures of the Flesh-era Exodus. “Desecration” bowls over the aural landscape through the Liam Mulpetre / Josh Goldie triplet-led rhythms as well as sinister lead break tradeoffs which allows Mark to sit comfortably in the mix in forceful command of his word craft. The title track comes next – and no, it’s not a Testament cover from their second full-length. This six-minute epic evolves from a slower to harder atmosphere, the smart musical interplay churning up interest quickly as the gang background vocals volley next to the key hooks. The dual guitar lines also aid the cause, although this could have been tightened up arrangement-wise as certain riffs drag on a bit too long for this scribe’s tastes. When it comes to the two songs “The Shrine” and “Sword of Damocles” from God’s Gift, these are respectful renditions that benefit from a modern production sheen – the latter contains some killer doom riffs next to the driving nature of Mark’s sinister melodies and a sophisticated shredding solo as the pace picks up again in ideal situations.
Toranaga U.K. continues to offer mid-tier level thrash that has powerful elements, and should garner decent interest from a lot of older followers of the movement. A New Order should be a stepping stone into hopefully even stronger work down the line, as this latest lineup finds its footing.