Review by Jeger on December 7, 2025.

Jesus Fuck, it's been a long time, man… A long time since I came across a Thrash/Speed Metal record that's actually worth a shit. The sub-genre is spearheaded by geezers who don't know how to play true Thrash anymore. It's all this super epic shit now a la modern day Kreator and Testament, but what of those old high-tops? Those old tattered blue jeans, bullet belt, tank-top and possibly a mullet. A Paul Baloff wet dream! That's what you were back then… I can just see it. The fundamentals of Thrash are still very important, and bands like Municipal Waste and Toxic Holocaust have built their careers around them. The look, the attitude, all of it vital for a dignified future for Thrash Metal. From out of Nashville, Tennessee, USA comes Burning Death. They have their sleeves cut off in their photo and one of them does actually have a mullet, so I'm feeling good about listening to their debut self-titled LP, released on December 5 via Caligari Records.

Ah, that's it! These fuckers have got it down pat. The intro to the opening track, "Genocidal Litany", hits like something off of "Peace Sells…", as I'm reminded of "Good Morning / Black Friday" by similar riffing patterns and the same tempo. And then it's time for some sleazy fucking Thrash done the American way: fast and nasty. Racing along here, chugging along over there and battered by a continuous barrage of martial riffs/beats. Old-school flavor, modern precision. The following track, "Vengeance Of The Inferno" unfolds to precise, air-tight progressions that speak to this band's pro-level discipline and erstwhile abilities. The tonality of this album is straight up Slayer. We're talking the exact same guitar tone as what you hear on their first three records. A dry and hollow tone that counterbalances well with the wet sound of the drums. Ancient wicked Thrash Metal equipped with jeans-creaming solos and growls that oft give way to King Diamond-esque falsettos. Definitely some Mercyful Fate vibes.

It doesn't have to be all souped-up for it to be great. Less is most certainly more here. These guys dazzle just fine, but it's done with a level of reserve. The riffs can be quite complex and the speed of it all is enough to induce inertia. So far, the music, the look and the attitude all add up. Midway through, you'll take in "Cold Bite Of Steel" and a flashing of the steel it surely is. This one's more of a mid-tempo'd chugger that actually drops down into some heavy Doom-like riffs before Burning Death get back to the business at hand - USA Thrash up your fucking ass… We've got a really talented guitarist here. Our boy makes every second count, as he delivers riff upon powerful riff with pin dot accuracy and laser precision.

There's a subtle yet unmistakable essence of Black Metal that radiates from the music as well. The spirit of those fabled First Wave days of Venom and Bathory alive and pulsating to the violence of the closing track, "Final Sacrament". Burning Death deciding to draw the dagger with equal parts intensity to the rest of the album, as opposed to the typical pretentious epic closing offering. Interesting solos and the whole jam session vibe. Kind of relaxed and closing out the experience loosely is Burning Death. "Burning Death" is very much a Speed Metal album, as well. You'll be reminded of Venom of course but also of Scotland's Hellripper or Norway's Aura Noir. Classicism and youthful aggression converging into this most ambitious recording. A strong debut for these guys and a nice acquisition for Caligari. I seldom review albums of this variety. Thanks to Burning Death for making it a pleasant experience. Here's to violence! To speed and to fucking attitude. Here's to Metal in its purest form: no bells, no whistles, just the kind of music that the genre was founded on all those years ago. Nicely done, fellas.

Rating: 8 out of 10