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There’s always been a fine line between potent homage and pointless pastiche, but there’s no mistaking the real, snottily atavistic deal when you hear it. Evil are a thrash metal band in the original sense of the term; this is old-school heavy metal delivered at breakneck speed and with the omnipresent stench of cheap vodka and piss-rusty bullet belts ensuring that the past is alive and well in the present. Proud students of Possessed, Venom and Bathory, this Japanese trio know that Hell Awaits is a much better album than God Hates Us All and that Motörhead were the greatest punk rock band of all time. Raw but punchier than a lot of self-consciously retro speed metal, Rites… is aimed squarely at the cult metal nostalgia set, but more broad-minded thrash fanatics are strongly advised to check this out, too.

Dom Lawson has been writing for Metal Hammer and Prog for over 14 years and is extremely fond of heavy metal, progressive rock, coffee and snooker. He also contributes to The Guardian, Classic Rock, Bravewords and Blabbermouth and has previously written for Kerrang! magazine in the mid-2000s.