It’s time for Xentrix to get their revenge!
Active since 1984 (under the name Sweet Vengeance) despite a few hiatuses, the band led by Kristian Havard (guitar), Dennis Gasser (drums), Chris Shires (bass), and Jay Walsh (guitar/vocals) continues its partnership with Listenable Records for the release of its 20th album, Allied with the Enemy.
A few percussion hits allow Rip Saw to set a fairly heavy tone before finally letting loose with furious thrash metal featuring obvious and effective Old School roots that will quickly have us headbanging along as they surge forward between screeching guitar solos. There’s a relatively melodic build-up before the final chorus, then it’s Allied with the Enemy, the short eponymous title track, that takes the lead with fast but above all highly catchy riffs, eschewing any frills to deliver a powerful punch at a brisk pace. Once again, the harmonics are masterfully executed until Killer Unknown delivers a heady groove that immediately takes hold before accelerating with a well-executed blast beat; yet the band knows exactly when to slow down, allowing vocals and leads to blend seamlessly in certain passages, and then offers us a moment of respite with On Burned Remains and its acoustic intro. LThe saturation will, of course, return to the forefront and energize the mix, though it does offer a few moments of respite before flowing into Nil by Mouth, which first unveils unsettling tones before striking frantically with well-crafted, perfectly jagged riffs. We pick right back up with Doomsday Hook, another highly effective track featuring an extremely catchy rhythm section over which furious vocals settle naturally, while making room for the leads at just the right moments – such as the two-part solo in the final – before smoothly transitioning into The Dark Eternal and its melancholic touches. To my surprise, these melancholic tones linger for a while, supported by relatively accessible clean vocals before giving way to rage, but they return for a second round, reminiscent of a power ballad with heavy metal roots, before giving way to a long wave of aggression, followed by Where the Madness Lies, which offers a touch of frenzied complexity, though it’s a bit too short. “Snake in Waiting” then kicks off at a brisk pace and remains relatively consistent, ensuring constant headbanging, followed by No Bridges Left to Burn, which takes over and offers a sound that’s quite heavy yet still accessible, finally giving way to the lively We Drink the Same Poison, which closes out the album with an instrumental section full of surprises.
Although it’s been around for quite a while, Xentrix has always had an underground reputation, and it’s one of those underrated bands that could play a much bigger role in the Thrash scene and I really hope that Allied with the Enemy will help make that happen!
85/100