Backlash—Colussus (2021)

Details

Released Wednesday 7 July 2021

FFO: Metallica, Megadeth, Pantera

Band

Ryan Sorensen—Vocals and rhythm guitars
Vaughan Reed—Lead guitars and backing vocals
Tyler Smith—Bass and backing vocals
Shawn M Johnson—Drums

Tracks

Sleight of hand
Call of the void
God of destruction
Desperado
Owed nothing
Last chance
Over the top
Lost liberty
Lenity

Review

Collusus is the debut album from Backlash, a thrash band from Joliet, Illinois, USA. According to Encyclopaedia Metallum, they are one of 11 bands worldwide named Backlash and one of four in the United States.

Their press release claims that “Backlash channels an array of classic influences such as Metallica, Megadeth and Pantera in their original music and live shows as they keep pace with modern metallers like Warbringer and Power Trip.” Let’s see if that lives up to reality…

Well, straight out of the blocks, having spun this album a few times now, I really don’t share the comparisons with Metallica, Megadeth or Pantera. Early-90s British thrashers Xentrix, maybe. Rezet, Toxic Waste, Toxic Holocaust, more like it.

The album kicks of strongly with “Sleight of hand” (track 1)—a driving chord progression that morphs into an ascending thrash riff. But despite a few interesting motifs, it really failed to grab me, unfortunately. And the vocal melody is somewhat lacking in imagination.

It’s not that the band doesn’t have the licks or skills. On paper everything is perfect. “Call of the void” (track 2) features a fabulous chugging riff. The squealing guitar solos in “God of destruction” (track 3) are well placed. “Desperado” (track 4) has an almost hardcore feel to it, particularly the vocals. It’s just … it feels rather like thrash-by-numbers and I can’t really get in touch with the humanity behind it.

“Owed nothing” (track 5) is a jolly stomp with a rather fun and catchy chorus and is without a doubt my favourite track on the album. But even then, at 5:05, for me, it doesn’t really introduce much to keep my attention for that long and somewhat outstays its welcome. Then ends suddenly.

“Last chance” (track 6) is the slower, atmospheric track but that subtlety so careful won in the first couple of minutes soon gets swallowed by the same crunching guitars, screaming solos, pounding drums and shouted vocals.

“Over the top” (track 7) features a riff straight out of a thrash 101 exercise book. As does “Lost liberty” (track 8) although it does explore and adapt the riff enough to keep my attention. But the rather monotonous vocals somewhat lose me again.

The album sees itself out with “Lenity” (track 9), the most all-out old school thrash track on the album. A pleasing riff and machine-gun vocals. What a shame to leave one of the best songs to last. This might be best suited as the album opener.

Conclusion

I really, really wanted to like this album. I love thrash. Besides rock, it’s my most populated genre in my music collection. It’s just… oh.

What was immediate, even on my first listen, was that wonderful, punchy American, high-gain amp guitar crunch. Even if the riffs sounded a bit ‘stock’—as I said, it did feel a bit thrash-by-numbers in places. While there wasn’t terribly much to feel excited about, at no point did I feel the need to reach for something else to listen to. This felt in the ballpark of ‘value brand’ thrash, rather a more ‘brand-name’ offerings like Metallica and Megadeth.

I’m sorry, that’s not a glowing review, but I wanted to be honest. There are definite moments of almost getting there. And if anything the final track, “Lenity”, proves it. It’s by far the most thrash-tastic song on the album and the one that captured my attention most.

Review score: 60%

Video

Disclosure

MDPR contacted me inviting me to review Backlash’s album, thank you. I have no connections to either MDPR or Backlash. I’m not being paid to review this. But I did get a free digital copy of the album to review which is pretty cool. Many thanks to Zach from MDPR, and to Backlash for continuing to create fresh, exciting thrash.