Lifers in their realm for ages and unphased by the years between as a result Graz, Austria-based thrash metal trio DEATHSTORM return with a fifth full-length album set to uphold their station as violent actors in seemingly dwindling niche. That is to say that ‘Cascophonies‘ upholds their classic thrash metal inspired death-thrashing attack without losing their steadily developed interest in speed/heavy metal divergence along the way. Though the generalist might not find any grand feature or outward spark here on this short shock of a record the sub-genre indoctrinated fandom seeking riff obsessed late 80’s styled thrash/death should appreciate its shotgunned crack through.

Deathstorm formed as a trio under the name Damage in 2007 and released a couple of demo CDs over the next three years before changing their name. Their formative years yielded a foundation of circa ’86 Slayer, Kreator and Dark Angel with late 80’s death/thrash inspiration lain atop. If they had to pick a side of the fence for their work in general the raw underground ‘old school’ thrash metal spectrum always fits but their earlier stuff was admittedly on the violent and chaotic side of things. Since I’d given thorough enough examination of the band’s discography in review of their previous LP (‘For Dread Shall Reign‘, 2020) I’ll suggest that their general reputation is steadfastly classics-minded, void of any particular trend beyond their focus on speed and the riff, but their influences have always been obviate enough.

There was no shortage of bands playing in this style back in the late 80’s, as the thrash ’til death phenomenon has been well documented… and this leaves the enduring work of bands like Deathstorm with a double-edged knife in hand as there’re endless points of inspiration available to a realm but a low level of success in terms of unique characterization. I’ve never found these folks brought anything particularly signature in terms of personage to the realm but rather their work provides some authentic tribute to 80’s death/thrash in true transitional gloria. This observation doesn’t land far afield with ‘Cascophonies‘, a dense yet fiery bout which stacks itself upon the Slayer-heavy movement of the previous album and touches upon some interest in pure heavy metal but generally provides chaotically scratched-through ~3 minute rippers wall-to-wall.

Since I’d been in on the ~ground floor with their stuff from the first album (‘As Death Awakes‘, 2013) it has been cool to see their interest in Exodus-like movement, traditional heavy/speed metal tones and such (see: “Cease to Exist”) spark up over time as these end up being some of the bigger features on this ~28 minute record. Those pieces change the tone of their approach significantly as Deathstorm‘s vocals become more coherent in their diction, almost resembling the United States late to the party horror thrashers like Blood Feast or Rigor Mortis wherein narrative driven stomping alternates with quicker ducks into heavier riffing (“Horripilation”, “Mount Eerie”) and scrambling leads. This ensures the full listen here isn’t entirely featureless riff saladry.

Where are the standout pieces, then? I think that’d be a fair question to ask of Deathstorm‘s entire discography in that there are mad riffs cracking off throughout each but the stuff that sticks is usually a very small step out of line. On ‘Cascophonies‘ no doubt “Cease to Exist” represents their heavily condensed action best but I’d also found the 80’s hardcore punk inspired breakdown in the middle of the otherwise grinding “Mask of Sanity” to be a choice break, taking the assault of the piece and shaking it down to the point that it almost devolves into a later Crumbsuckers song… for a second. Closer “Mortuorum Flies” likewise takes a ruthlessly aggressive approach to start before veering into more of a heavy metal stance for its lead break beyond its chugging n’ rustling, a Sadus or, more accurately ‘Watery Graves‘/’Morbid Reality‘-era Hexx sort of piece which lends some wrath to Side B.

Six years beyond their previous album Deathstorm haven’t pulled out all the stops for album number five but rather picked up where they’d left off and chopped through as expected. ‘Cascophonies‘ offers little resistance for the returning fandom, hitting the same way their stuff has been since the early 2010’s without losing place in the greater progression of their discography. I’ve nothing but respect for the way they’ve kept their heads down and focused on their thrashing death attack here and definitely had a great time wheeling through it, though I don’t know that there is anything all that memorable tucked into its brief tirade. A moderately high recommendation.

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