Product Of Hate - Buried In Violence

You might ask yourself "can they thrash in Kenosha?" Fuckin' A they can.Wisconsin-based thrash newcomers Product Of Hate have been honing their skills for the last several years - and it shows. Their debut album Buried In Violence is a thrash tour de force and no mistake. Their particular sound appeals to metalheads that thrill to the Swiss clock precision of classic thrash and speed metal, but filters it through a melodic, groove-oriented sensibility that modern 'bangers dig.

Vocalist Adam Gilley delivers his policitally-charged rhetoric with formidable throat-destroying growls while remaining understandable, but the true power of POH is in the guitar duo, the brothers Rathbone (Cody and Gene) who provide the electric rails that this train runs on - and this motherfucker is full speed ahead. As far as songs go, they got the universal thrash metal playbook and they're running it step by step: sociopolitical commentary, monster riffs (love the little pull-off riff on the opening of Blood Coated Concrete), machine gun drums, pounding bass, even [the thrash version of] a ballad à la Testament's Musical Death (A Dirge) - it's all here. And it's fucking great.

The Bottom Line: Good gravy this is some pumped up thrash. Seriously, I was fucking tired after this album finished, but I was in a damned good mood. Product Of Hate's cathartic debut album lets its "pissed flag" fly and you get to mosh along for the ride. 'Nuff said!

- Genghis would love to see these dudes open for Testament (suck it, neck!)...