Nascent in name and without any profound visibility just yet Santiago, Chile-based thrash metal band ABREAKTION are already keen to the violence that rules over their world as they take on the voices in their head for this visceral yet traditionally achieved debut EP. In reaction to post-traumatic triggers ‘Bornhatred‘ never bothers to whisper or croon in response to stimuli but stands ready to stab and bite its way through these four displays of extreme (but not too extreme) aggression as they introduce themselves riff-after-riff as a tuneful yet mayhemic faction. Expect a clear but never too cleanly cut strike of pure mid-to-late 80’s thrash metal heading in.

Abreaktion is the result of a ten year process which started when the band Addiction were formed back in 2013 between then-members of Parkcrest and a former drummer from Ripper having spent about two years working on a preliminary demo tape and then an EP (‘No Future‘, 2015) before splitting up. The band were generally headed by main songwriter, vocalist and rhythm guitarist Roran Fatehatred, guitarist/session drummer Javier Salgado (Deviants, Mayhemic, ex-Hellish) and bassist Sebastián Logan when they reformed in 2018, split in 2019, and eventually started a new band in 2023. The early work of their previous band is worth tracking down for the sake of appreciating the well-written rhythm guitar work and its expert touch of both street level Teutonic thrash and the more dramatic steps of earlier Bay Area speed metal (see: early Deathrow and Artillery) as much of this also applies to what they are doing in this new group. This precedence, as well as their associated collective resumes, helps to explain why a record like ‘Bornhatred’ arrives fully developed and with plenty of ‘old school’ thrash metal personality in hand.

Abreaktion introduced themselves with “Pyromaniac” a single where Fatehatred‘s vocals are pulling some extra wrath as a dead-ringer for ‘Endless Pain‘-era Mille Petrozza where even the echo is spot on though the riffcraft itself is far more sophisticated than the circa ’85 barbarism of German thrash/speed metal. This first impression is technically somewhat at odds with with the intent of the band as they reference inspiration a tier and a generation beyond the earliest Bay Area/German scenes. It is a difficult line to draw when the very first observation in my notes suggests the riffcraft (not the guitar tone) is pure ‘Terrible Certainty‘. A nod to ‘Forward to Termination‘-era Sacrifice and mention of Holy Terror do well enough to suggest the level of flow and aggression here otherwise but the upshot, often anthemic quality of a songs like “Mental Torture” evoke a very distinct reference in my mind at least.

“Empty Promises” is basically the song that it felt like Addiction were attempting from the start complete with the dramatic lead-in with its single guitar intro and blitz into the realization of that general motif in the immediate break of the main riff soon after. The harried rattle of the drums and the rouse of the lead in the main “chorus” immediately set my mind to a certain time and place in classic thrash metal ingenuity and not far from the best aspects of the first Critical Defiance record while also fitting the modus of the two guitarists here. Rasped and harried vocals bring and extreme intensity to this style which suggests some level of black or death metal interest and the ‘Piece of Time‘-esque intro to “Pyromaniac” which follows definitely gives those opening moments a scent of sulphur and mercury. There is a real sweet spot, a pocket of riff intensity and extremity which still invokes the rites of late 80’s thrash metal with a different less stringent riff language that should immediately appeal to folks whose base heavy metal language is mid-80’s thrash/speed metal and its more violent acts.

By the third song their straight forward, shot-after-shot attack is mostly compounded by the double-bass throttled kick of “Amnesia Chronicle”, a song which is similar in its movement and general direction of its riffing which carries on the rushed-at thought served. It is however home to some of the best lead guitar work and I’d personally love to hear a bit more of that level of more traditional lead style in their work. The main point has been well communicated at this point, a classics-minded traditional thrash metal with an extra aggressive edge and some modern conveniences found in well polished but still underground thrash level production values. Lion’s Roar Studios have an excellent track record with this type of album and sound design already but I’d particularly praise the presence and timbre of the drums on this recording which allows plenty of room for bass guitar definition and some of their more technical rhythm guitar work (see: “Mental Torture”, “Empty Promises”) to shine. As always I could use more bass guitar presence in the actual songcraft but they’ve kept it on the straight and narrow for good reason here as Abreaktion make a brilliant first impression with this EP. Otherwise I didn’t find the Dark Angel cover all that transformative or inspired but can appreciate how “Welcome to the Slaughterhouse” lines up with their intent and sits well next to their own riffs and rhythms.

‘Bornhatred‘ is basically a fist-to-face transaction in the greater realm of thrash metal expression. No pomp, no hifalutin showiness, no neoclassic shredding or black metal interruptions, what we get here is bloody-knuckled thrash metal served at a fiery clip and with plenty of riffs to show they’ve got it right and are ready with an all-pro level of craft as they begin to consider a full-length beyond this point. Judging by the cover artwork from Alex Aguayo and the lyrics they’ve got a general theme and touch for curation that fits well in with the existential protestation that thrash metal generally embodies. Overall the potential is not only here on this EP but it feels basically unleashed into an engrossing, satisfyingly aggressive and entertaining thrash metal sound sure to catch hold of ‘old school’ heads and make quick devotees of them. A high recommendation.

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