Nuclear - Jehovirus CD review

They Say :- Recognized as one of the most active Chilean metal bands, Nuclear has always displayed overfilled live intensity along with a heavy skull-crushing sounding.

Since their early days in the northern city of Arica the band proved to emphasize musical determination based on attitude and hard work.

The band has never stopped playing live since 2003. Hundreds of live reviews, a bunch of underground metal awards and the possibility to share stage with international acts like Brujería, Destruction, Torture Squad, Paul Di Anno, Toxic Holocaust, Grave, 1349, Joey Belladonna, Hirax, Kathaarsys, Transmetal, Denial, Jesus Martyr, Mortal Sin and innumerable national acts such as Pentagram, Criminal, Necrosis, Poema Arcanvs, Slavery, Dorso, Darkemist, among others, has positioned Nuclear to be one of the most dynamic Chilean metal bands over the last decade.

We say :- Thrash Metal is a genre that seems to have been subjected to more buggering about than just about any other as bands seek to add their own unique slant on the genre, usually somewhat less than successfully. When we were asked to review Jehovirus from Chilean band Nuclear we were not quite sure what to expect. It's been a while since we have heard a decent new 'proper' thrash band, so could these South Americans deliver ?

The album opens with Acts Of Depravity and after a slow burning intro it builds up into a pounding, heavy beat that seems to be channeling the power of South Of Heaven era Slayer. Although the track is new it's constituent parts are certainly steeped in the traditions laid down by their thrash forefathers. OK, so it's not original but does it really need to be? Nuclear do what they do extremely well and this powerful opening sets the scene very well for what is to come.

The second track, Asphyxia, is straight up slice of thrash, this time less Slayer-ey and a bit more Testament-ey. And herein lies the band's strength, or their weakness depending on your point of view. Listening to the album lots of the riffs and beats will be extremely familiar to fans of old-school thrash.

The album continues in a similar vein. The band vary the pace to keep things interesting and everything works. The vocal performance from Matías Leovicio is well up to the job with some proper angry shouting and there are some impressive screaming guitar solos form Francisco Haussmann and Sebastian Puente.

This is a rare album, one where you can sit and pick out all the influences without it effecting your enjoyment of the final product. It's probably fairest to say that Nuclear pay homage to the glory days of thrash (when Kirk Hammet could hold a tune) without sounding like a pastiche or, worse, some dodgy tribute band.

As the titans who laid the foundations for this genre move away from their roots it is left to bands like Nuclear to carry the flag, and in the hands of these guys the legacy of the past is in safe hands.

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