When we last heard from Chile’s Critical Defiance, I found myself absolutely taken aback by the brain-numbing brutality of their sophomore album, No Life Forms. Here was a full fledged, unadulterated new thrash album that was *gasp* fresh and original. There’s no denying the likes of Slayer’s Reign in Blood and Kreator’s Pleasure to Kill were used as templates for these young bucks to create their own chaos, which is something they certainly do well. If they wanted to rehash this formula for album #3, that would’ve been fine and well in my book. This is, however, not the case.
While their latest effort, The Search Won’t Fall, is not a complete deviation from Critical Defiance’s brutal thrash attack, there is a sense of maturity to the songwriting, arrangements, and delivery of these songs. In the same breath, perhaps “maturity” is the wrong word, as this would imply Critical Defiance is abandoning their thrash roots for the greener pastures of prog, modern metal, or hard rock, which is anything but the case. Yes, there is an emphasis on technicality throughout, but it’s executed in a manner that makes the band come off as more unhinged and crazed than ever.
The nearly 8 minute opening title cut brings these virtuosic leanings to the forefront, coming off at times like Master of Puppets era Metallica, albeit with far more emphasis on brutality and extremity. The unpredictable twists and turns and downright dizzying guitar work sets the stage for what’s bound to be a thrashing highlight of 2024. The punishing “Long Distance (The What’s to Come)” sees the band explore blackened thrash territory, as does the all too brief “Full Paranoia” later on, while “44 Minds” might be the best Beneath the Remains era Sepultura banger that never was, an absolutely savage exercise in death/thrash.
For those who prefer their thrash on the straight and narrow, Critical Defiance has you covered there too, laying down the law on cuts like “Helpless World” and “Absolüt” which thrash it up like its ’86. Daring instrumental palette cleansers are scattered along the way, the acoustic driven “Margarita” being the most unexpected of the bunch, while the crossover death/thrash of “All the Powers” is a blink and you’ll miss it bruiser. Closing it all out is the ambitious 9 and a half minute opus, “Critical Defiance”. If nothing else, they saved the thrashiest for last. This is some breakneck ferocity with enough mosh riffs and face melting solos to make one’s head spin.
Calling all thrash bands old and new who barrage my inbox with review inquiries! The Search Won’t Fall… is currently where the bar has been set for thrash metal in 2024. If your album doesn’t come close to touching it, don’t think of bothering me with your new release. And as for the dudes in Critical Defiance, way to blow this cynical thrasher’s mind yet again. Feel free to mosh your way up to the States sometime and teach what’s left of the pizza thrasher crop a lesson in violence!
8 out of 10
Label: Unspeakable Axe Records
Genre: Thrash Metal
For fans of: Kreator, Sepultura, Dark Angel