Review by Felix on July 16, 2026.

They are consistent, no doubt about it. Of course, I speak about Ravager. The guys start their fourth album with a riff which lies in close proximity to that of "Funeral Hymn" and they end with a cover version of "Bonded by Blood". Those who still do not know the biggest influence of the German quintet are hereby given the biblical task of learning all 40 chapters of the Book of Exodus by heart. I can be so harsh because I am sure that all of you know what is going on here. Ravager have realized the glory of 1985 and they have the skills to add another fantastic chapter to the book. Not the Book of Exodus, but the Book of Thrash Metal, naturally.

"From Us With Hate" lives up to its name, although some lyrics express an almost inadequate longing for peace. "Time Has Come (To End All Wars)" surprises with lines like "Time has come to raise the banner of humanity". But thrash has always been socially critical and honestly speaking, who cares a lot about the lyrics as long as we get such a spectacular display of absolutely amazing songs? Ravager do not only have a lead singer with a properly rebel voice and four good musicians at the instruments. They sound edgy and authentic, old school but fresh, aggressive and dynamic. Without worrying about any frills or embellishments, they swing the thrash axes extremely competent and make me feel ten years younger. Still much too old, but a step into the right direction.

Mega hit follows mega hit, but the title track puts the cherry on the cake. This time the inspiration comes from Artillery, the melodic beginning has been part of the curriculum at Stützer School for years. As the track accelerates, it appears like the brother of "In Thrash We Trust", the best piece of Artillery's album "X". Could there be a greater compliment? Well, maybe a track that challenges "The Challenge" (stupid wording, by the way), but Ravager stay loyal to their style. They don't celebrate an intensively raw thrash approach, they rather devastate in an elegant way. It is not only the title track with its simple yet absolutely fantastic staccato chorus which relies on a very strong and smooth flow. "Aggressive Music For Aggressive People" is catchy as hell, "Legends Of The Lightning" grabs the listener by his dirty collar in a matter of seconds and already the first two tracks make clear that Ravager belong to the best German thrash bands of our times (too bad that Mortal Infinity have left us…). "Freaks Out Of Control" spreads some fine, sinister vibes and "Alone We Won't Survive" boasts with very strong tempo changes, mind-boggling verses and an almost cosy yet thrilling chorus.

The albums derails to a certain degree when it comes to the opulent "Defender". Its title alone reminds me of Manowar – in an unpleasant manner, of course. This song wants to be a kind of epic track, but it gets obvious that this kind of songs is not the core business of the band. No bad track, still a solid one with a more or less typical design for these songs (calm beginning with thoughtful guitar tones, smooth transition to more vehement parts, nearly Maiden-esque melody lines, a handful of speedy eruptions, unspectacular ending). Nothing special – and the same must be said about the cover version which closes the album. Don't put your fingers on things which are already perfect, you can only hurt them. That's why I've never had cosmetic surgery, haha. No, on a more serious note: "Bonded By Blood" is a great song that has withstood the test of time with big ease, but it is still a Gary Holt classic and not a Ravager song.

Yes, Ravager send intense greetings to Exodus, they even describe a "murder in the front row" in the opener. But there is still a sufficient degree of individualism and the passion of the guys shimmers through every note of the full-length. By the way, the album is very well produced. Despite some gang shouts that add a small touch of punk, Ravager play precisely and on a high level of maturity. Their music appears technically transparent and the same goes for the mix which avoids an underground sound as an end it itself. So from my point of view, the album has the best mix this kind of thrash can get. And the musical content of the first eight tracks is also not so far away from perfection.

Rating: 8.9 out of 10

Review by Dominik on December 16, 2025.

I've always had a soft spot for Ravager. Not only because they come from my home turf and deliver a modernized, no-nonsense version of thrash metal, but mainly because the band has been walking a very particular path since day one: namely the one that only goes upward. With every release, Ravager refine their approach, polish their strengths, make incremental improvements, and evolve bit by bit. Because this progress happens in small, sensible steps, you never get those jarring stylistic detours that feel as wrong as a polar bear sunbathing in the Sahara. "From Us With Hate" keeps this trajectory alive.

It takes barely a minute to understand that album number four won't suddenly implode, and no artistic disaster is lurking around the corner. The sound is nearly perfect, maybe a little too polished, like someone ironed the distortion, but very well suited to the band's modern thrash direction. The riffs grab you instantly, whether they're grooving along with purpose or—like around the 45-second mark of the opener—happily shredding away as if someone handed them a fresh pack of guitar strings and a reason to live.

Most of the record stays firmly within Ravager's well-established formula, though two tracks stand out for very different reasons. First, there's the band's decision to cover "Bonded By Blood". I admire the intention: paying tribute to one of thrash metal's greatest debut albums is noble and a risky move at the same time, a bit like challenging your grandfather to an arm-wrestling contest because he "looks old now". However, covering a true classic is almost always a losing battle. I can't think of a single cover that genuinely surpasses the original, and that's not the cover bands' fault. You just can't recreate the specific zeitgeist, youthful recklessness, and mild insanity that forged a classic. So, technically, the result is spotless. Emotionally, it has all the soul of a freshly sterilized operating table. Thankfully, it's tucked away at the very end, where it can do the least damage.

The second deviation, "Defender", right before the closer, is the kind of surprise that makes you perk up. Not the band's first eight-minute track, but probably their most ambitious. Here they offer a formidable mini guided tour through metal history. It starts with gentle acoustic strumming, shifts into Iron Maiden worship, then picks up speed and thrashes away with gusto. Later it loops back to the heavy metal elements and sprinkles enough solo chaos in between to make any fretboard fan grin. The song isn't overly complex, but it's impressive how effortlessly Ravager transition between sections. It shows they can push their boundaries without betraying their thrash credentials.

Aside from these two outliers, the album offers a wealth of strong material. The opener "Freaks Out Of Control" takes its time to build before it kicks the door open. Right away the band proves they fully understand the fundamental principles of thrash and the song captures perfectly what makes Ravager tick: groove meeting speed, sharp solo work, drumming with surgical precision, and vocals that are aggressive but never unhinged. The quality remains high throughout. Some tracks put more emphasis on constant speed—"Aggressive Music for Aggressive People" or "Speed Trap" (the most Teutonic-sounding song here) come to mind. Others rely on midtempo intensity to break up the frantic energy, perfectly demonstrated by "Legends Of The Lightning", which also boasts an outstanding chorus.

The title track is another highlight. It opens as if modern-day Artillery were introducing a new single, before Ravager launches into gang shouts, memorable riffs, and a chorus that practically begs to be shouted along by a crowd that has lost all sense of restraint. The song again shows why this album works so well: there is enough variety in the musical foundation, no section drawn out too long, and those small extra touches that keep you fully engaged and make for a compelling listen.

I'm convinced that every listener will discover their own favorite moment on "From Us With Hate", which only reinforces the impression that there are no true weak spots on the record. If Ravager keeps climbing at this steady pace, latest album number six might well be the one people will one day call a genre classic. No pressure, of course, just the entire future of German thrash riding on it.

Rating: 8.3 out of 10, because Ravager deliver a consistently strong album whose only real drawback is that their "Bonded By Blood" cover reminds us why classics are better admired than imitated.