Review by Felix on September 26, 2022.

It is the common understanding that pristine thrash metal was in a very critical condition during the (second half of) the nineties. I agree that these times were terrible years for my beloved genre. Yet it wasn't completely dead. Every now and then, a more or less old-fashioned album was released by a bunch of stubborn dudes and these works were like a journey into the glorious past. "Decibels" belonged to these outputs. Razor set an example for the endurance of thrash metal and they did it in an uncompromising way.

The first half of the album is a pure speed / thrash metal ecstasy. Razor choose the direct way. One straight bullet chases the next. One may say that variety and further development are missing. However, let us stop talking about these irrelevant features. The Canadians know the crucial success factor that determines victory or defeat. Therefore, they confront the listener with slicing riffs, slicing riffs and - you are right - slicing riffs. Incited by the whipping snare, the guitars specify the direction. They dominate the sound mercilessly, while lead vocalist Bob Reid has a hard time. As always, he stands in the shadow of his predecessor. Sheepdog was able to express that certain iota of insanity and, even more important, he had the more casual name. Nevertheless, Reid does not fall by the wayside. He has to struggle in order to leave his mark, but he does a pretty good job at the end of the day. Altogether, all systems go and Razor's engines go off without a hitch. This must be mentioned explicitly, because unfortunately, this is not a matter of course after a period of six years without new recordings. A lot of once solid bands have released comeback albums that have mutated into a catastrophe. Yet I don't want to speak about these nightmarish products. Let's keep the focus on the eighth full-length of Razor.

Three divine songs gild the first half of "Decibels". Right from the outset, the title track takes us back to the blooming period of thrash and "Jimi the Fly" follows the straight line rigorously. "The Game" lets the guitars flow freely and the result is one of the most violent sports reports I have ever heard. These songs fear no competition and they show the pride of the band in difficult times. The problem is that the group has shot all its powder after these tracks. I admit that the following songs deliver solid designs. Only "Goof Soup" tastes like a filler, while the acceptable title track of "Open Hostility" appears with the tiny delay of six years. However, the tracks of the second half do not achieve the effect of the aforementioned neckbreakers. But just when I thought that the album is coming to an end without any further killer tracks, "Violence... Gun Control" made me realise that I have to think again. It's a menacing, slow-moving reptile whose poison is dangerous, but an antidote has not yet been invented. The final track, the new recording of "Instant Death" underlines the "back to the roots" attitude of the band, unfortunately without constituting a significant additional value.

The dry production matches the raw and unaffected approach of the Canadians. Thrash without frills is the name of the game and I like it since I have listened to Slayer's debut for the first time. I therefore recommend to listen to this exciting full-length, although it is not completely flawless. It is a pity that it has been the last output of this legend so far. Anyway, "Decibels" marks a strong, energetic and authentic legacy of a continuously underrated band.

Rating: 8.1 out of 10