VIOLBLAST - Conflict

Violblast - Conflict (2016, Suspiria Records)

What happens when Slayer and Testament are playing together in Spain? You get Bay Area Thrash Metal from Western Europe under the name Violblast. With the speed and intensity of Slayer and the technicality of Testament a blast from the past in the form of a nine songs platter under the title Conflict is the result. Does it has what it takes to measure up to the two major bands cited?

With the mention of those two pillars one must expect fast guitar riffs, tight playing, well the usual coda of Thrash Metal. Conflict is all that and doesn’t try to be the next Vektor. Just as the old saying says; if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Well, this is what Violblast just did they are a bunch of Thrash Metal fans that wanted to make Metal like they used to do it. Personally, I think they achieved their goal with a solid Thrash Metal record that isn’t too long and enough of that thing that makes us getting back at it.

The recording is spot on and I don’t have any real critic on the sound that is loud, clear, and reminds me of the Testament circa 1987-1990. The vocal delivery sounds a lot like Tom Araya’s especially on ‘’Invisible Death’’. Also worth mentioning that those references aren’t that obvious and Violblast is not a copy-paste band of those legendary Thrash Metal acts.

Lastly, the Kreator sound is everywhere from the drumming to the vocals bursts and the guitars. Conflict is an album that carries the Thrash Metal flag high with pride. As with the Germans of Kreator, Violblast is the most Bay Area Thrash act not from the Bay Area. Efficient and well done from start to finish.

7.5