
Thrash therapy
-- Schizophrenia --
05/03/2020
Stijn Daneels

Album genres:
■ | Death Metal |
■ | Thrash Metal |
Album artists:
■ | Ricky Mandozzi | Vocals, bass |
■ | Romeo Promos | Guitar |
■ | Marty VK | Guitar |
■ | Lorenzo Vissol | Drums |
Review written by Stijn "Metal Shredder" Daneels.
[METAL
SHREDDER REPORTING]
Back in
2016 I had a shred with the Belgian heavy metal band Speed Queen (https://www.belgianmetalshredder.be/interviews/41) wherein they mentioned their
touring mates Hämmerhead. While I didn’t have the opportunity to shred
Hämmerhead, I quickly heard thereafter that they had rebranded themselves as
Schizophrenia and that this year they would be touring with Spanish thrashers Angelus
Apatrida and our country’s speedsters Evil Invaders. Well, said tour starts
today, so let’s shred this Schizophrenia quickly and efficiently! As always!
[SHREDDING BASICS]
“Voices” is
the first EP of the Antwerp-based thrash/death metal act Schizophrenia (3rd
EP if you include the 2 EPs they had brought out when they were called
Hämmerhead). It’s an independent release sent to us by our German friends at
All Noir. This 20-minute EP begins with “Structure of Death,” a viciously
pounding thrasher with crisp, raging vocals, shredding riffs, occasional tempo changes
and some beautiful guitar wizardry. A great intro for this release!
The next
song, “Perpetual Perdition,” goes along pretty much the same way, a lot of
technical riffage with frantic drum beats and clear, naturally raw sounding
vocals! The EP’s third track, “Mortal Sin” is slower and more melodic with a
ton of bass groove along with the other aforementioned Schizophrenia elements. Schizophrenia’s
eponymous song is a beautiful song with a marching main beat going back-to-back
with plenty of rhythm switches and finally the sweet “Beyond Reality” wraps it
all up with one final thrash/death metal frenzy before closing the door on this
release, literally!
Overall, Schizophrenia’s
debut EP feels like a passionate throwback project to such iconic acts like Death,
Morbid Angel, Demolition Hammer and Slayer. Five vicious combos of scorching
thrash riffs, ferocious drum work, snarly death metal vocals, technical guitar
solos and a bit of prog metal sprinkled throughout. Nothing more, but certainly
nothing less!
[SHREDDING VISION]
The front
cover of the “Voices” EP shows a shaggy guy with a lunatic look in his eyes
slicing open his own throat with a Rambo-sized knife while two black, faceless
ghouls with huge teeth hold up his head and knife-wielding arm. It’s a striking
visual representation of the mental condition which inspired Schizophrenia’s
band name. The lack of control the patient has over his/her own actions and
emotions, the feeling of being controlled by something other than yourself, very
haunting stuff.
[SHARPEST SHREDS & BLUNTEST BLADES]
My top pick
goes to the EP’s epic opening track, “Structure of Death,” the song instantly
begins with galloping thrash and death beats and then goes on with convincing
vocals, a beautiful guitar solo and a string-tight rhythm section! That’s
exactly how an opening song should be, a tune which gives you an accurate
first-look of what you’ll be in for and makes you begging for more. Speaking of
more, I simply want more of this schizophrenic madness!
[SHREDDER’S SCORECARD]
8,5 mind
ghouls out of 10. Schizophrenia takes all the necessary ingredients of
old-school thrash & death metal and gives this freshly made cocktail one
short but powerful shake! Fans of such acts like Demolition Hammer or our
country’s very own Evil Invaders should certainly check out this thrashing “Structure
of Death!”