Malakai - Chasing Demons
Gomek Records - GOMEK 05 - 2006
By Philip Whitehouse
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Pantera-worship from a Gomek Records release, as hot on the heels of
Angerstrike's
Blackened Sky comes
Malakai's
Chasing Demons. Perhaps the fact that Gomek puts all the albums up for free download is an automatic legal defence against plagiarism? Poor attempts at humour aside, what we have here is an admirably savage metal record, filled with groove and thrash in equal measure.
Malakai certainly don't seem shy about showing their
Pantera influence off, but they do manage to go somewhat beyond their influence too, with some nice distorted arpeggio melodies, blisteringly fast musicianship and other, more inspired moments.
This sub-fifteen minute EP is slightly held back by its obviously limited-budget recording, but the quality of the material overcomes this stumbling block with alacrity, the songs taking twists and turns into unexpected territory considering the immediate resemblance to the Cowboys From Hell. For instance, fifth track 'Convulsing' turns into an
Anata-esque tech-death number for ten seconds or so, before thrash riffage takes us to a slow-burning rhythm guitar riff backing a dark, virtousic and interesting solo. It should also be noted that Jameson Becker's drumming throughout ranges from impressive to jaw-dropping, his ability to drop hyperspeed blasts matched by his transitions and fills.
Now, if
Malakai could get over their obvious sonic debts to
Pantera and get a better studio next time round, we could be dealing with a serious contender to the modern thrash crown. At the moment, they're promising, but held back by their influences.
6.5/10
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Official Malakai Website
Official Gomek Records Website
