Hailing from Louisiana, Void is a quintet that delivers an addictive technical thrash metal potion through this debut album Horrors of Reality. Originally hitting the streets independently in 2023, Shadow Kingdom Records smartly picked this release up for a wider reach. It’s a 40-minute plus rollercoaster ride chock full of mighty riffs, fluid leads, crazed main vocals, and a boatload of supplementary hard-hitting tempos / gang vocals to bring all the songs home.
An intense galloping nature to the main riff body of work sits in that mid 80’s/early 90’s playbook – when artists like Cyclone Temple, Powermad, Realm, or Toxik achieved modest attention in the underground (and slightly above). Even if the average song sits in that 4–5-minute range, there’s plenty to unpack as the shifting transitions bring “Voodoo” and “First In, Last Out” to stellar standards – the former unleashing some exotic twin guitar lines by Alex Bernard and Gabe LeJeune that rival classic Forbidden. At other points the power/thrash mechanics kick in full-force – old Metallica next to Heathen two examples colliding together in terms of the gritty vocal approach, jaw-dropping riffs, and strong bass presence to make “Lazarus” a back half smasher. Haunting effects penetrate the 6:38 “Mirror Maze”, the axe parts piled on seamlessly as the arrangement unfolds in this Mercyful Fate-ish meets Annihilator-like that can be slightly jazzy or avant-garde in the longer instrumental sections. The clear production captures the subtle nuances this brand of technical thrash deserves – where ardent followers can do deeper dives through intense headphone listening sessions.
Normally albums of this type can be tricky propositions – as you want to put out enough material to satisfy the consumers, yet not overstay or exhaust people due to the brand of technical thrash on display. Void comfortably balances out both sides of the equation, while also writing a catchy, dynamic record for Horrors of Reality. Feeding the audience with a recent 7” single as they prepare for a second full-length, you’d be wise to become a part of this movement, as it’s exciting to hear a newer band developing fresh material in this niche again.