Mantic Ritual - 'The Executioner'

Steeltown thrash revisionists go for the throat old-school style and deliver fast and hard like a Prementi Brothers sammich.

You can sit metalheads from any age group in front of the stereo with a listening session filled with Death, Possessed, Nuclear Assault, Exodus and Testament and naturally these legendary thrash vibes are going to rub off on the more ambitious folk.

The members of Pittsburgh’s Mantic Ritual likely practiced S.O.D.’s snub-nosed speed gem “Chromatic Death” a thousand times before calling themselves a legit band, previously known as Meltdown. Due to legal issues with other bands bearing the same name, this young demolition squad has been going by Mantic Ritual for a year now, and with perfect timing as Nuclear Blast has given them a contract with priority treatment.

The reason Mantic Ritual’s label is so high on them is evident within the first minute of the opening cut “One By One.” Crushing beats, winding guitars, agreeable solos and a tempestuous swoop in the tradition of Whiplash and Destruction are the name of the game to Mantic Ritual’s impressive debut, Executioner.

Of course, when you record your album in the non-American Mecca of thrash, Germany, the kiss of Teutonic steel is more than likely to grace you. With Andy Classen (of Tankard, Krisiun and Dew Scented fame) overseeing Mantic Ritual, an upgrade from Iron City beer to Weizenbock isn’t the only bestowment for this band.

Though Mantic Ritual occasionally pads their monstrous songs with a few more minutes than necessary in the attempt to make this classic style their own, by and large Executioner rips on “Black Tar Sin,” “Panic,” “Double the Blood” and the iniquitously fast “Thrashatonement.”

Yes, folks, in case you’re not keeping score, tried and true thrash metal is back and firmly in the hands of the youth of today. Add Mantic Ritual to the new-gen thrash pack. Welcome aboard, lads; this is one of hell of an introduction.