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Blog Categories Review Methane - Kill It With Fire - Reviewed By ukthrashers!

Methane - Kill It With Fire - Reviewed By ukthrashers! Wednesday April 5 2023, 11:13 PM

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Methane - Kill It With Fire - Reviewed By ukthrashers ! Check it out here at this link: https://ukthrashers.org/2023/01/17/review-methane-kill-it-with-fire/

Frank reviews the new album by Swedish/US Thrashers Methane, and catches up with vocalist Tim for a chat about the band and the album

The second full length offering from “Methane” has been delayed more often than a British rail train.Its an album that promises much, but can “Kill it with fire” deliver? With three singles already released, it may already be familiar to some of you.

With a clash of styles in the form of bassist “Tim Scott” formerly of New Jersey Death metal outfit “Revenant” and ex “Hell Patrol” guitar man “Jimi Masterbo”, hitting each other head-on, the result is a full-on thrash feast. The duo is now joined by “Markus Grundstom” as a second guitarist and “Jonathon Fundin” adding some extra aggression on drum duties, finally completing the lineup that has been a bit fluid for the last few years.

Recorded at the Sellnoise studio’s in Sweden and produced by “Jonas Arnberg”, who has been described by Tim as the fifth member of the band, He even had a stint behind the drum kit filling in during a few live shows, so he can say he is a fully paid up ex member.” Jonas” doesn’t just twiddle the controls either, letting the musicians know when something isn’t working then directing them to try something different. The overall sound is full on and well produced, getting the balance of the musicians and vocals just about spot on, capturing the essence of the music, without over polishing it and killing the groove the band wanted to get across.

While this album in the main is faster and heavier than its predecessor, 2017’S debut “The Devil’s Own”. the influences the band draws from can be heard from all across the metal spectrum. Everything from “Slayer” and “Havok” to down and dirty booze soaked rock and roll. The first three tracks showcase the variety in the music, while in the main keeping to the thrash blueprint but then adding their own unique touches to keep them apart from their contemporaries.

The opening couple of tracks couldn’t be more different, it really shows the variety on the album, showcasing their ability as songwriters and musicians. The first and title track “Kill it with fire” has been about for a while as a single. It sets the pace of the album perfectly. Beginning with a crescendo of noise before delivering a furious thrash riff reminiscent at times of fellow Swedes “Dr Living Dead”. Tim’s vocal delivery varies throughout the track from straight up thrash style to a death metal growl, which is a theme throughout the album. Next up is “Accuser” is more mid paced and brings with it a rock and roll vibe. Starting off with an angry torrent of abuse in the form of a voice-over that bleeds into the opening guitar salvo. The riffs keep coming shifting direction and pace as the song continues with the lyrics delivered in the same aggressive manner as the aforementioned voiceover.

Track five “A Blood Red Sky” brings a collaboration with “CJ Scioscia” from east coast thrashers “Blood feast”. This is a straight up old school thrasher and a welcome addition to the fray. During a quick catch up i asked Tim how this came about.

“Well, I’m from New Jersey originally, the first time I played with Blood Feast, I was in a thrash band called Parasyte. That was before Revenant.

We hooked up with Blood at a festival we played in Brooklyn, NY (Rage of Armageddon) and have been talking about doing gigs together since then. It’s fun to get friends involved so I just asked CJ if he wanted to grind one out for us. CJ has his own studio, I think he had it back to us with in a few days. Great dude!”

I really like this record. It has much to offer. Not just for an average thrash metal fan, but for lovers of metal full stop. The variation is enough to keep you listening, and with seven tracks the listener’s mind doesn’t get distracted like it can on twelve track all filler non killer records that seem to be in vogue these days. I asked at the beginning of the review if it can deliver, and the answer is a resounding yes. ukthrashers

Release Date: January 27, 2023

FFO: Onslaught, Pantera, Slayer, Kreator

Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Presave now! https://smarturl.it/methanepresave

The album reverberates unapologetic thrash metal guitar riffing courtesy of guitarists Jimi Masterbo and Markus Grundstrom paired with the intense drumming of newly inducted drummer Jonathan Fundin . The album also features a colaboration with CJ Scioscia from New York City area thrash legends Blood Feast , who shreds a solo on track 5 ' A Blood Red Sky '.

Tim commented in a press release "The lyrics for the album have a darkened tone of irony about our contemporary societal woes and some deeply personal songs as well, of life and all its miseries. The music on the album sounds brutal, we really got a sick mix of old school thrash and heavy pit provoking groove riffs."

Check out the videos!

The music video depicts today's society, social media junkies hopped up Facebook likes. The idea for the song came from a day Tim was going through his friends list, deleting people that had no reason to be there. " I was culling them, deleting someone from your page is worse than death for some people. I think we are all going fuckin' crazy. Its a virus and we're all infected"